- CABLE NUMBER
- A code number identifying a precise shade of colour in the system developed
by the Color Association of the United States, usually associated with a specific
name, and used in the official specifications of US government and military flags
- for example, the official specification for the Stars and Stripes require: Cable
No. 70180. Old Glory Red, Cable No. 70001, White and Cable No. 70075, Old Glory Blue.
US National Flag and Flag of the
State of Wyoming, US both showing Cable Nos. 70180, 70001 and 70075 (fotw)
- The term for a charge, particularly an anchor, that is shown complete with its cable –
but see ‘foul anchor’ (also
From left: Flag of the Minister of Defence,
Uruguay (fotw); Naval Jack of
Ecuador (fotw); Flag of
Melide, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of a
Fleet Commander 1960–1963, Taiwan (fotw)
- CABLED CROSS
- See ‘roped cross’.
- CABOSHED (CABOSSED or CABOOCHED)
- The heraldic term used when an animal’s head is borne full-faced and with no part of the neck visible - cabossed or cabooched – but see ‘affronte’ in (also ‘guardant’).
Arms and Flag of Uri, Switerland (Wikipedia
Arms and Flag of Garešnica, Croatia (fotw)
- CADENCY, MARK(S) OF
- A heraldic term for the mark of difference added to an escutcheon to indicate
that the bearer is heir to the owner, or a direct descendent of the family to
which the primary coat of arms belongs, or that the person is a member of a related
branch of the same family – differencing.
Please note however, that the form these marks take
may vary from country to country – for example – the cadency label is used on
several British royal banners in deference to (although not in strict accordance
with) English heraldic practice, whilst traditional Scottish heraldry is more
likely to employ a bordure and other European traditions may change the colour
of a charge. It is suggested therefore, that a suitable glossary or heraldic dictionary
be consulted for further details (see also
‘coat of arms’,
The cadency marks of the 1st to the 6th son in English heraldry (Parker)
- The magic wand or rod of Hermes/Mercury (patron of commerce) with two serpents wound around a
winged staff; formerly also a symbol
of the occult and of alchemists (amongst others), it is now more often (although by no means exclusively) associated with medical institutions –
the staff of Hermes or of Mercury (see also ‘Staff of Asclepius’).
From left: Flag of the Army Surgeon General and Emblem of the Army Medical
Corps, US (fotw); Flag of the Head of State Tax Administration, Ukraine (fotw);
Arms and Flag of Fafe, Portugal (Klaus-Michael Schneider)
Please note that this should not be confused with the Staff of Asclepius
as referenced above, which has only one snake on an unadorned staff and is symbolic of the medical profession.
- CALATRAVA CROSS
- See ‘cross of Calatrava’
Putative Banner of the Order of Calatrava, Spain (fotw)
- CALL SIGN
- Every vessel at sea is allocated an international call sign consisting of
at least four letters for identification purposes by any means of signalling available,
including flags – see ‘call sign hoist’ below.
Please note that the current international call sign is
made up of two letters identifying the country of registration and additional
flags identifying the particular ship ship – but see ‘make her number’. Most navies also prescribe tactical call
signs according to their own naval signal codes and which is used intra-service
for operational purposes. Warships also generally hoist their international call
signs at the yardarm when entering or leaving harbour (see also
- CALL SIGN HOIST
- A hoist of signal flags displaying the international call sign of a civil
or naval vessel – but see ‘make her number’ (also
‘international code of signal flags’,
‘pendant number’ and
NZAD (November-Zulu-Alpha-Delta) in the International Code of Signal Flags and the Call Sign Hoist of USS Blair (fotw)
- CALTRAP (CALTROP or CALTHROP)
- The heraldic term for a three or four-armed (usually but not invariably faceted) figure
that represents an implement of war consisting of four spikes which, when thrown on the
ground, always has one point facing upwards, and designed to injure men and/or horses – a caltrop, calthrop, cheval-trap or galtrap (see also ‘faceted’).
Example: First Captain’s Colour, Green Trayned Band, London England c1642 (CS); Standard of the Earl of Perth, Scotland (geocities.com)
- CALVARY CROSS (or CALVARY)
- In heraldry see ‘cross of Calvary’.
Arms and Flag of Atalaia e Alto Estanqueiro-Jardia, Portugal (fotw);
Arms and Flag of Madalena, Portugal (Klaus-Michael Schneider)
- CAMBRIDGE FLAG
- See ‘continental colours’.
Cambridge Flag/Continental Colours 1775 – 1777, US (fotw)
- CAMP COLOUR (or COLOR)
- 1) An alternative term for a company colour in some regiments of British and
Canadian foot guards (but see also ‘company colour’
and note below).
- 2) See ‘camp flag’.
- 3) A term, now largely obsolete, for a small military flag originally used
to delineate the boundaries of a regiment's encampment and later used in some
armies as a company guide flag, to mark turning points in manoeuvring troops
(but see also ‘fanion 3)’).
Camp/Company Colour, No 2 Company, Governor General’s Foot Guards, Canada (Official Website)
Please note with regard to 1) that as far as is known this term is
used by the British Grenadier Guards, the Grenadier Guards of Canada and the Governor
General’s Foot Guards (also Canada) in place of company colour.
- CAMP FLAG
- In the British and some other army usage, a non-ceremonial flag, often
containing the relevant badge against regimental colours, and used to indicate
the presence of a unit, Corps or Regiment, or the position of their headquarters, within a camp or other location – a
regimental, unit or headquarters flag (see also
‘emblem military and governmental/departmental’ and
‘regimental colours 2)’).
The Army Air Corps,
UK (Graham Bartram); The
Royal Regiment of Artillery, UK (Graham Bartram);
The Training and Development Branch, Canada (fotw); The
Corps of Royal Engineers, UK (Graham Bartram)
- CAMP SILK
- See ‘camp colour 1)’ and
- 1) A series of events which are designed to achieve a specific goal or goals – for example the campaign to
adopt a flag (see also ‘flag design competition’).
2) In heraldry a word occasionally seen in place of the English term base – see ‘base 1)’ (also ‘in base’).
Arms and Flag of Madalena, Portugal (fotw)