This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Dictionary of Vexillology: L (Liberty Cap - Livery Colours)

Last modified: 2024-11-09 by martin karner
Keywords: vexillological terms |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors


On this page:

LIBERTY CAP
See ‘cap of liberty’.

[liberty cap example]
Flag of Jujuy, Argentina (fotw)

LIEUTENANT COLONEL’S COLOUR (or COLOR)
See ‘stand of colours 1)’ and ‘venn’.

[Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours example] [Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours example] [Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours example] [Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours example] [Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours example]
Examples of Lieutenant Colonel’s Colours, English c1641 (Željko Heimer, CS and fotw)

LIGATURE
See ‘monogram’.

[ligature example]
Presidential Flag of France (1894 - 1895) (fotw)

LIGHTFASTNESS
See ‘fastness’.
LINDWORM
In heraldry see ‘dragon’ and its following note.

[linied example] [linied example]
Flag and Arms Skiptvet, Norway (fotw)

LINED
1) See ‘edging 1)’.
2) A term sometimes used to describe the detail lines within a charge or a figure – but see ‘garnished’ and ‘masoned’ (also ‘charge 1)’.
3) In heraldry a term for the lining (either fur or fabric) of a mantle or pavilion - see ‘mantle’ and ‘pavilion’.
4) A heraldic term also used if a bear or greyhound has a line affixed to its collar (see also ‘gorged’).

[lined example] [lined example]
Flag of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway c1935, UK; Arms of St Malo 1615, France

LINE(S) OF PARTITION IN HERALDRY
See ‘divisions in heraldry’.

[lines of partition] [lines of partition] [lines of partition]
Flag of Nordhümmling, Germany (fotw); Flag of Schenkon, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Salvan, Switzerland (fotw)

LINGUISTIC FLAGS
1) Flag-like images that are intended to link together communities which speak the same language irrespective of national boundaries, and which are usually an amalgam of the national flags concerned - an amalgam or amalgam language flag (see also ‘combined flag’ and ‘patchwork flag 1)’ ).
2) Flags that are intended to represent a link through the use of a common natural language, generally (but not invariably) countries previously held by colonial ties – such as that of the Francophonie.
3) Flags that are intended to represent one of the constructed languages, for example Esperanto.
4) Flag images, usually (but not invariably) those of national flags, which are used on the Internet (and on other documentation) to indicate in which languages the material on a particular site are available for the convenience of the reader.

language flag Francophonie language flag
Amalgam Language Flags for German (CS); Flag of the Francophonie (fotw); Amalgam Language Flag for English (fotw)

Please note with regard to 1) that these images do not (as far as is known) exist in cloth.
LITTEN
A term sometimes used in heraldic blazoning to describe the windows and/or door of a castle, tower or other building, particularly when these are shown in a different tincture – but see ‘ajoure’ with its following note and the note below (also ‘open’ and ‘tinctures’).

[litten example] [litten example] [litten example]
Flag of Viseu, Portugal (fotw); Flag of Palau-Sator, Spain (fotw); Arms of Miranda do Douro, Portugal (fotw); 

Please note that this term, whilst being an archaic alternative to “lighted” or “lit”, is not, as far as can be discovered, used in English heraldry.

LIVERY BANNER
The term, now obsolete, for a small square flag in the deceased person’s livery colours, usually for use at that person’s funeral (see also ‘badge banner’, ‘livery colours 1)’, ‘great banner’, ‘grumphion’ and ‘bannerole’).

[livery banner example]
Livery Banner of The Royal House of Tudor 16th C, England

LIVERY COLOURS (or COLORS)
The principal colours (often - but not exclusively - the first metal and first colour) of a coat of arms and generally (but not exclusively) shown as two or three stripes on flags (see also ‘armorial banner 2)’, ‘banner 2)’, ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘hanging flag’, ‘rule of tincture’, ‘state colours 3)’, ‘streamer 2)’ and ‘wreath 2)’).
2) A term sometimes applied to the principal colours of a flag unrelated to a coat of arms - but see ‘national colours 2)’ and ‘state colours 3)’.

 [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example] [Livery colour example]  
Arms and Flag of Andrychów, Poland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Bobnice, Czechia (fotw); the State Arms and National Flag of Germany (fotw)

Please note that the term is derived from the colours – usually taken from a family’s arms - worn as a livery by the servants of that family.

Introduction | Table of Contents | Index of Terms | Previous Page | Next Page