Chevron (insignia)

Chevron (insignia)
"Argent a chevron gules"

A chevron (also spelled cheveron, especially in older documents) is an inverted V-shaped pattern. The word is usually used in reference to a kind of fret in architecture, or to a badge or insignia used in military or police uniforms to indicate rank or length of service, or in heraldry and the designs of flags (see flag terminology).

Contents

Ancient history

The chevron occurs in early art including designs on pottery and rock carvings. Examples can be found approximately 1800 BC in archaeological recovery of pottery designs from the palace of Knossos on Crete in the modern day country of Greece.[1]

Sparta (Lacedaemonia (Λακεδαιμωνία)) used a capital lambda (Λ) on their shields.

Heraldry

A chevron is one of the ordinaries in heraldry, one of the simple geometrical figures which are the chief images in many arms. It can be subject to a number of modifications. When the ends are cut off in a way that looks like the splintered ends of a broken piece of wood, with an irregular zig-zag pattern, it is called éclaté.[2] When shown as a smaller size than standard, it is a diminutive called a chevronel.

Chevrons appeared early in the history of heraldry, especially in Normandy. In Scandinavia the chevron is known as sparre; an early example appears in the arms of Arvid Gustavsson Sparre.

Rank insignia

In areas observing Commonwealth of Nations or United States doctrine, chevrons are used as an insignia of enlisted or NCO rank by military forces and by police. One chevron usually designates a lance corporal, two a corporal, and three a sergeant. One to four "rockers" may be also be incorporated to indicate various grades of sergeant. In American usage, chevrons typically point up, or on shoulderboards towards the neck; in Commonwealth usage they usually point down, or on shoulderboards away from the neck.

In the Commonwealth, the correct terminology for rank chevrons includes the number of stripes, called "bars", therefore, the sergeants' insignia is properly termed a "3-bar chevron". A 1-bar chevron indicates a Private in the Canadian Army or American Army (Corporal) Lance Corporal in other Commonwealth armies, a 2-bar chevron indicates a Corporal, and a 3-bar chevron a Sergeant. Canadian and Australian Forces often refer to chevrons as "hooks."

Examples

Other uses as insignia

French automobile manufacturer Citroën has used a two-chevron logo along its history.

The 2009-10 version of the Manchester United home kit has a black chevron on the front of the shirt, on the chest. This was added to honour the shirt worn by the club when they first won the FA Cup in 1909.

In some armies, small chevrons are worn on the lower left sleeve to indicate length of service, akin to service stripes in the U.S. military.

During the Gulf War, coalition forces displayed single chevrons on their armoured vehicles to prevent friendly fire incidents.

The Israel Defense Forces use chevrons in various orientations as organisational designators on their vehicles, specifically which company within a battalion they belong to. A downward-pointing chevron would mean it belongs to its battalion's first company, a forward-pointing one to the second, upward the third and backward the fourth company.[3]

NASA also has a chevron in its "meatball" logo.

The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, a DCI World Class drum corps, uses the chevron as its emblem; many past and present members sport chevron tattoos. The chevron was also the basis for the closing drill formation for its 2006 field show Faust.

See also

References

  1. ^ C.Michael Hogan (2007) Knossos Fieldnotes The Modern Antiquarian
  2. ^ An example is said to appear in the arms of Blanluz, in Dauphiné. "Frédéric Luz: Grand Armorial Universel". http://www.luz-herald.net/free/b4.html. Retrieved 2008-06-29. 
  3. ^ Gelbart, Marsh (2004). Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985-2004. Osprey Publishing. p. 44. ISBN 9781841765792. 
v · d · eHeraldry
Cadency · Crest · Compartment · Helmet · Mantling · Quartering · Impalement · Shield · Supporters
v · The Blazon Series
Charge • Divisions • Field • Lines • Ordinary • Tincture
Bend • Bordure • Canton • Chevron • Chief • Cross • Fess • Flaunch • Pall • Pale • Saltire

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chevron — may refer to: Chevron (insignia), a decoration Chevron (anatomy), a bone Chevron (geology), a fold in rock layers Chevron (land form), a sediment deposit across the earth s surface The Chevron, a newspaper Chevron Corporation, an oil company… …   Wikipedia

  • chevron — [shev′rən] n. [ME cheveroun < OFr chevron, orig., rafter < VL * caprione < L caper, goat: see CAPRIOLE] 1. a heraldic device in the shape of an inverted V 2. an insignia consisting of a V shaped bar or bars, worn on the sleeve as of a… …   English World dictionary

  • chevron — Synonyms and related words: Hershey bar, L, achievement, alerion, angle, animal charge, annulet, apex, argent, armorial bearings, armory, arms, aviation badge, azure, badge, bandeau, bar, bar sinister, baton, bearings, bend, bend sinister,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • chevron — 1. noun a) a V shaped pattern; used in architecture, and as an insignia of military or police rank, on the sleeve I told you that in fact they were called chevrons and it was an exercise by the transport department to teach us to stay two… …   Wiktionary

  • insignia — n 1. badge, decoration, Mil. bar, oak leaf cluster, U.S. Navy. star, eagle; award, token, medal, medallion, ribbon, cockade, aiguillette, aglet; crest, emblem, button, shield, chevron, shoulder strap, brassard, stripes; ensign, sign, symbol,… …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder

  • United States Air Force enlisted rank insignia — The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Air Force.While all Air Force military personnel are referred to as Airmen , it can specifically refer to the pay grades of E 1 through E 4 which are below the… …   Wikipedia

  • British Army Other Ranks rank insignia — The term used to refer to all ranks below officers is Other Ranks (ORs). It includes Warrant Officers, Non commissioned officers (NCOs) and ordinary soldiers with the rank of Private or equivalent. Officers may, in speaking, distinguish… …   Wikipedia

  • Canadian Forces ranks and insignia — This is a table of the ranks and insignia of the Canadian Forces. As the Canadian Forces is officially bilingual, the French language ranks are presented following the English (in italics). Contents 1 Commander in Chief 2 Flag officer / General… …   Wikipedia

  • Starfleet ranks and insignia — The Starfleet insignia in the late 23rd century Starfleet ranks and insignia are fictional titles and badges that form the hierarchy of Starfleet in the Star Trek television shows and movies. Contents …   Wikipedia

  • Peruvian Navy enlisted rate insignia — are used to display the position of enlisted sailors within this organization. Rankings and their respective insignia are as follows, from higher to lower:* Técnico Supervisor Primero : rate insignia consists of two wide and one narrow half bars… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”