Bunting – Strong, coarse cloth used to make flags. Can also refer to a string of small festive flags

Canton – The top left quarter of a flag, also known as the first quarter or upper hoist. It is the position of honour on a flag

Ensign – A flag flown (or ‘worn’) on a ship, signifying nationality

Field – The background of a flag

Flag mast – A free-standing pole used for flying of flags. Often also used to describe a flagpole equipped with a yardarm and gaff

Fly – That portion of a flag furthest from the staff

Gaff – A spar set diagonally on the after side of a mast or flagpole

Half-mast – The flying of the flag below the top of a flagpole to indicate mourning

Halyard – The rope used to raise or lower a flag

Heraldry – The practice of designing signs involving symbols and devices on shields and flags as a means of identification, according to specific design protocols. Probably dates back to the 12th century, when warriors and jousters began wearing helmets that covered their faces, thereby obscuring their identity

Hoist – The half of a flag closest to the staff. Also to raise a flag

House flag – Generally, a flag flown by a trading or pleasure craft, identifying the company or person to which it belongs, but which may also be flown on buildings and vehicles

Jack – Originally, a national flag that was flown from the bow of a ship from the jack staff. Through custom, the Union Flag of the United Kingdom came to be known as the Union Jack

Masthead – The upper tip (the truck) of a flag mast fitted with a yardarm and/or a gaff.

Peak – The tip of a gaff or flagpole

Roundel – A round decorative or identifying symbol, such as that used by the Royal Australian Air Force on its aircraft

Shield – A shield-shaped badge used in heraldry and often applied in the field of a flag

Staff – A short pole on which a flag is flown, for example, an ensign staff

Standard – Originally the banner of an important noble or member of a royal house. Now generally used to describe the banner of a head of state, for example the Royal Standard is the personal flag of The Queen in the United Kingdom

Yardarm – Sometimes called a cross arm. Either end of a yard