In vexillology

Vexillology

Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum, meaning 'flag', and the Greek suffix -logy, meaning 'study'. The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word velum...

, a Spanish fess is a term occasionally used to describe the central horizontal stripe of a tricolour

Tricolour

A tricolour is a flag or banner more-or-less equally divided into three bands of differing colours...

 or triband

Triband (flag)

The triband is one of the most common designs of flag, and is the design of some 30% of all current national flags.As the name suggests, the main feature of the design of a triband is three parallel bands of colour. Many non-vexillologists use the term tricolour to describe these flags, but...

 flag that is twice the width of the stripes on either side of it.

The name is based on the most well-known example of this style of flag, the flag of Spain

Flag of Spain

The flag of Spain , as it is defined in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe...

, and in analogy to the equivalent term for vertically striped flags, the Canadian pale

Canadian pale

In vexillology a Canadian pale is a centre band of a vertical triband flag that covers half the length of a flag, rather than a third in most triband designs. This allows more space to display a central image . The name was suggested by Dr. George Stanley, and first used by Elizabeth II of Canada...

.

Looser definition

As with the Canadian pale, a looser definition of Spanish fess also exists, in which the central stripe is considerably larger than, but not necessarily twice the width of the two outer stripes.

Other flags featuring a Spanish fess include the national flags of Lebanon

Flag of Lebanon

The flag of Lebanon is formed of two horizontal red stripes enveloping a horizontal white stripe. The white stripe is to be two times a red one —a Spanish fess...

, Cambodia

Flag of Cambodia

The national flag of Cambodia was readopted in 1993, after elections returned the monarchy to rule.-Brief history:Since around 1850, the Cambodian flag has featured a depiction of Angkor Wat in the center. The current flag, with a blue border and red central was adopted following Cambodia's...

, and Laos

Flag of Laos

The flag of Laos was adopted on December 2, 1975. The flag had previously been used by the short-lived Lao Issara government of 1945-46, then by the Pathet Lao.-Description and symbolism:...

, the flag of French Polynesia

Flag of French Polynesia

The flag of French Polynesia was adopted in 1984. The red and white colours have been adopted from historic Tahitian flags. An outrigger is depicted in the central disc over a stylised emblem of sun and sea; this is very similar to other flags in this area, for example the flag of Kiribati...

, and the proposed national flag of Cyprus.