Pennon

Triangular pennant
Tapering pennant
Triangular swallowtail pennant

A pennon, also known as a pennant or pendant, is a long narrow flag which is larger at the hoist than at the fly, i.e., the flag narrows as it moves away from the flagpole. It can have several shapes, such as triangular, tapering (square tail) or triangular swallowtail (forked tail), etc. In maritime use, pennants are to be hung from the main truck.

Pennon-style flags were one of the principal three varieties of flags carried during the Middle Ages (the other two were the banner and the standard).[1] The pennon is a flag resembling the guidon in shape, but only half the size. It does not contain any coat of arms, but only crests, mottos and heraldic and ornamental devices.

Pennoncell, streamer[2] and wimpel[3] are minor varieties of this style of flag (see variant types).

  1. ^ Swinburne 1911, p. 456.
  2. ^ "Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Stella - Stumpmast)".
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Vexillology: W (Whaling Flags - Wyvern)".