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Dictionary of Vexillology: O (Oblique Display Design – Optical Proportions)

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OBLIQUE DISPLAY DESIGN (or FLAG)

See ‘flag for slanted display’.

Flag of the Army For Slanted Display, Bolivia (fotw & CS)

OBVERSE

The face, or more important side, of a flag; and in the Western tradition always depicted with the hoist to the observer’s left – the dexter in heraldry – see ‘dexter hoist’ (also 'double-sided 1)', ‘mirror image’, and 'two-sided 1)'.

Obverses: National Flags of Portugal, St Kitts and Nevis and Guinea

Please note however, that in Arabic tradition the flag is generally depicted with the hoist to the observer’s right – the sinister in heraldry (see also ‘sinister’; ‘dexter’, ‘reverse’ and ‘sinister hoist’).

National Flag of Saudi Arabia

OCCASION FLAG

See ‘commemorative flag’.

Centennial Flag 1905–2005 Alberta, Canada

OCCITAN CROSS

A variation of the cross clechee which has a voided twelve-pointed gold cross, with a gold roundel placed at each of those points – a Cross of Toulouse (see also cross 2), cross clechee, cross of Pisa, roundel 2) and voided).

Flag of Languedoc, France; Flag of Occitania; Flag of Val d'Arán, Spain

OCILA

See ‘firesteel’.

Flag of Zvezdara, Serbia

OFF-CENTRED

See off-centred cross 2) and off-centred cross 3) (also centred and off-set towards).

OFF-CENTRED CROSS

1) Generically see ‘Scandinavian Cross’.

2) Specifically, a cross of the Scandinavian-type that is used on a flag which is not from, or has no connection with, that region – a horizontal Latin or Scandinavian-type cross – but see note a) below.

3) A cross whose vertical arm may or may not be centred but whose horizontal arm is closer to the top or bottom of the flag – but see note b) below.

National Flag of Denmark; Flag of Thunstetten, Switzerland; Flag of Volyinia, Ukraine

a) With regard to 2), in heraldry a horizontal Latin Cross (which occupies the whole of the flag) should be termed a "Latin Cross throughout in fess" (see also in fess and the references below). b) Regarding 3), in heraldic terms an off-centred cross (which again occupies the whole of the flag) whose vertical arm is centred but whose horizontal arm is closer to the top of a flag may be blazoned a Latin cross throughout, or if closer to the bottom of the flag a Latin cross throughout reversed – see ‘Latin Cross’ (also ‘reversed 2)’ and ‘throughout’).

OFF-SET (or OFFSET) TOWARDS

The term used to describe a charge (or charges) or a stripe (or stripes) that is (or are) set towards the hoist, fly, top or base of a flag, rather than lying on its vertical or horizontal meridian – shifted towards or shifted to but see note b) below (also) centred, charge, inset, meridian, off-centred and optical proportions).

State Flag of Serbia 2004–2011; National Flag of the Cape Verde Islands; National Flag of Liechtenstein

Notes
a) These terms should always be accompanied by a further description, for example, off-set towards the hoist.
b) The term �shifted to� (although much used) is potentially inaccurate in that it implies a position against the edge of a flag, so the Editors suggest that one the alternatives (as given herein) are to be preferred in description – for more details see shifted to.

OFFICE FLAGS

See flag(s) of office.

Chairman of the Council of Ministers 1971–1990, Bulgaria

OFFICER’S BROAD PENNANT (or PENDANT)

See broad pennant 3) and officer's pennants.

Yacht Club Commodore’s Broad Pennant, Finland

OFFICER’S FLAGS

In US usage and in some others, those flags that are flown by the past and present officers of a club, especially of a yacht or boating club – yacht officers flags � but see ‘broad pennant 3)’ and ‘officer's pennants’.

Typical examples: Yacht Commodore, Yacht Vice Commodore, Yacht Rear Commodore, US

OFFICER'S PENNANT

The term that may be used to describe those pennants (often – but not exclusively – a swallow-tailed version of the relevant club burgee or flag) flown by the past or present officers of a club, especially of a yacht or boating club � a flag officer, yacht officer or officer’s broad pennant or a yacht officer’s pennant – but see ‘officer's flags’ and ‘broad pennant 3)’ (also ‘burgee’ and ‘swallow-tail(ed)’).

Yacht Commodore and Vice-Commodore, National Yacht Club, Ireland

OFFICIAL FLAG

1) A flag that has been formally adopted by the relevant authority, and/or is considered by them to represent a particular entity, institution or cause, as opposed to a design or type which is not so authorized – see ‘unofficial flag’ (also ‘de jure’, ‘flag law’, ‘institutional flags (official)’, and ‘type flag’).

2) A term that may be employed to describe a sub-national flag which is specifically for official rather then general civil use, and usually distinguished by the addition of arms (see also ‘banner 4)‘, ‘civil flag’, ‘ceremonial flag 1)’, ‘state service flag’ and ‘sub-national flag’ with following notes).

Official Flag/Ensign of Hesse, Germany; Official Flag of the Hapoel Tel-Aviv Football Club, Israel; Official Flag of Thuringia, Germany

OGIVAL

The term for a form of flag (now obsolete), or of a gonfanon, where the fly is rounded and comes to a point – boat-tailed or shield-shaped – but see ‘lanceolate’ (also ‘engrailed fly’, gonfalon 1), ‘Gothic shield’ and ‘shield’).

Flag of Persia c1350?; Flag of Granada, Spain c1350

Please note that the differences between “ogival” and “lanceolate” are often very slight, and we suggest that both entries be consulted.

OLD GLORY

1) Generally a poetic nickname for the US national flag – the Stars and Stripes (see also ‘Betsy Ross flag’, ‘continental colours’, ‘eagle standard’, ‘Franklin flag’, ‘great star flags’, ‘quincunx’, ‘star-spangled banner’ and ‘stars and stripes’).

2) Specifically referring to a US national flag bearing 34 stars and a small white anchor, reputedly belonging to a Captain William Driver.

National Flag of the United States; Captain Driver’s Flag

ONE-AND-A-HALF ARMED CROSS

The term used in Eastern European heraldry – and a direct translation of the Polish Póltora krzyz – that describes a Latin cross which has a second horizontal arm projecting on one side only – usually the sinister (see also ‘cross 2)’, ‘cross of Lorraine’, ‘Latin cross’ and ‘two-and-a-half armed cross’).

Flag and Arms of Kobylin-Borzymy, Poland; Flag of Siemiatycze, Poland

ONOMAST

See ‘name pennant’.

Onomast/Name Pennant of the Schooner Walter Holly, New Brunswick c1890

OPEN

In some (particularly South European) heraldic usage, a term used when the field can see seen through the door and/or windows of a fortified or similar building – but see ‘ajouré’ (also ‘field 2)’.

Flag of Porqueres, Spain; Flag of Rogatec, Slovenia; Flag of Borba, Portugal

OPEN CROWN

See ‘coronet’.

Flag of La Gomera, Spain

OPEN LOZENGE

In heraldry see ‘voided lozenge’.

Flag of Morlanwelz, Belgium

OPEN SLEEVE

A technical term for the normal sleeve of a flag that is open at both ends to receive a staff or hoistline – see ‘sleeve 2)’ (also ‘closed sleeve’, ‘heading’ and ‘hoisting’).

OPTICAL PROPORTIONS

1) A term used when the relative dimensions of a series of stripes progressively widen between the hoist and the fly in order to appear even when the flag is flying – graduated stripes – an example would be the national ensign of France (see also ‘charge 1)’, ‘hoist’, ‘fly’, ‘off-set towards’, ‘proportions 2)’, ‘stripe’ and ‘visual centre’).
2) A term also used when a charge is set slightly towards the hoist so that it appears to be centred under the same circumstances – as in the federal service flag of Germany.

National Ensign of France; Federal Service Flag of Germany

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