Dictionary of Vexillology: M (Mullet – Mythological Creatures) (original) (raw)

MULLET

The heraldic term for a usually geometric charge in the form of a star that usually (but not exclusively) has five or six radiating points – but see rowel and estoile (also star 1), sun in splendour and wavy.

Flag of Valais, Switzerland; Flag of Medjimurje, Croatia; Flag of Orzens, Switzerland

Please note, we suggest that a glossary or dictionary of heraldry be consulted regarding the terms given above.

MULTI-STRIPE

A flag of four or more parallel stripes or bands, whether plain or defaced, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, and of equal or unequal width (see also barry, bendy, covering, paly, partially covering, defaced, plain 2), rainbow flag, stripe and striped).

[ ](../images/v/vx-th.gif) [ ![[Multi-stripe flags]](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/v/vx-icschar.gif)](../images/v/vx-icschar.gif) [ ](../images/v/vx-nl-fr.gif)
_War Flag of [Thailand](thw.html); Flag C, International Code of Signals; Flag ofFriesland, Netherlands_

Please note that flags bearing a fimbriated stripe (such as that on the flag of Gambia where the flanking stripes are narrower than the outer ones) should not be considered as multi-stripes, but as fimbriated tricolours – see fimbriated tricolour (also fimbriation, stripe and tricolour).

[ ](../images/v/vx-gm.gif)
National of Gambia

MULTI-TAILED (or TONGUED)

(adj) The terms used to describe a fly that is cut into more than three tails or tongues (see also gonfanon, square-tongued, swallowtail and tongue and tails).

[ ](../images/v/vx-it-snmrc.gif) [ ](../images/v/vx-it~snmrc.gif)
War and Merchant Flag of the Republic of Venice c1750

MULTI-TAILED DESCATE

(adj) The term used to describe a fly that is cut into more than three tails with rounded ends (see also double-tailed descate, fly, gonfanon,square-tailed,swallow-tail(ed) swallowtail and tongue and tails).

[ ](../images/v/vx-es^13cav.gif)
Cavalry flag 13th c., Spain

MUNICIPAL ARMS (or COAT OF ARMS)

See civic arms.

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Arms of Bilov, Czechia (source)

MUNICIPAL CROWN

See mural crown 1).

[ ](../images/v/vx-fr-78-ve.gif)
Flag of Versailles, France

MUNICIPAL FLAG

See civic flag 1).

[ ](../images/v/vx-cz-nj-bl.gif)
Flag of Bilov, Czechia

MURAL CROWN

1. Generically and in European heraldry, the heraldic term for a coronet composed of battlemented walls showing masonry and generally from three to five towers, usually (but not exclusively) representative of a municipality or urban area – a civic, municipal or urban crown – but see 2) and the note below (also astral crown, coronet, crown, crown of arms, hamburgian coronet, leafy crown, naval crown, and provincial crown).

2. Specifically the heraldic term for a coronet with masoned, battlemented walls but without towers, often representative of a town or city and reputedly based on an ancient Roman triumphal ornament – but see civic crown 1) (also astral crown, coronet, crown) and naval crown.

[ 1931f.gif)](../images/v/vx-es%291931f.gif) [ ](../images/v/vx-pt-evr.gif)
Flag of Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal; National Arms of Spain 1931–1939; Flag of Évora, Portugal

MURREY

The heraldic term for the colour mulberry-red – see shades of tincture.

MYTHICAL FLAG

1. See suppositious flag.
2. A newly introduced term that also covers the design of a historical flag which is based upon anecdotal evidence only – but see 1) above (also raven flag).

Mythical/Suppositious State Flag of Mississippi 1861–1865; Mythical Civil Flag of the US

MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES

See heraldic beasts.

Flag of Perugia, Italy; Flag of Skiptvet, Norway; Flag of Krasnochetayskoe, Russia