Chevron (insignia): Difference between revisions

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{{short description|V-shaped or inverted-V-shaped symbol}}

[[Image:Trans-coat of arms.svg|150px|right|thumb|'''[[Trans, Switzerland|Trans]]''' is a [[municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the district of [[Hinterrhein (district)|Hinterrhein]] in the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Graubünden]].

{{refimprove|date=October 2022}}

]]

[[Image:Chevron demo.svg|150px|right|thumb|An "Argent a chevron gules" in heraldic terminology]]

A '''chevron''' (also spelled '''cheveron''', especially in older documents) is a 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]] [[uniform]]s to indicate rank or length of service, or in [[heraldry]] and the designs of [[flag]]s (see [[flag terminology]]).

{{Heraldic achievement}}

A '''chevron''' (also spelled '''cheveron''', especially in older documents) is a [[V]]-shaped mark or symbol, often inverted. The word is usually used in reference to a kind of [[frieze|fret]] in [[architecture]], or to a badge or insignia used in [[military]] or [[police]] [[uniform]]s to indicate rank or length of service, or in [[heraldry]] and the designs of [[flag]]s (see [[flag terminology]]).

==Ancient history==

Appearing on [[pottery]] and [[Rock art|petrographs]] throughout the ancient world, the chevron can be considered to be one of the oldest symbols in human history, with V-shaped markings occurring as early as the [[Neolithic era]] (6th to 5th millennia [[Before Christ|BC]]) as part of the [[Vinča symbols]] inventory. The [[Vinča culture]] responsible for the symbols appear to have used the chevron as part of a larger [[proto-writing]] system rather than any sort of heraldic or decorative use, and are not known to have passed the symbol on to any subsequent [[Archaeological culture|cultures]].<ref name="Mäder 2019">Mäder, Michael: ''Ist die Donauschrift Schrift?'' Budapest: Archaeolingua. {{ISBN|978-615-5766-29-9}}, (2019),</ref>

Many comparatively recent examples appear from approximately 1800 BC onward, beginning as part of an archaeological recovery of pottery designs from the palace of [[Knossos]] on [[Crete]] in the modern day country of [[Greece]].<ref>C.Michael Hogan (2007) [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes ''Knossos Fieldnotes'' The Modern Antiquarian]</ref> Furthermore the [[Nubia]]n [[Kingdom of Kerma]] produced pottery with decorative repertoire confined to geometric designs such as chevrons.<ref>{{cite book| last = Bianchi| first = Robert Steven| title = Daily Life of the Nubians| year = 2004| publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group| isbn = 978-0-313-32501-4| page = 81 }}</ref>

== Heraldry ==

A chevron is one of the [[heraldry|heraldic]] [[ordinary (heraldry)|ordinaries]], the simple geometrical figures which are the foundation of many [[coat of arms|coats of arms]]. A chevron is constructed by choosing a visually appealing angle such as the [[golden angle]] or any other angle the artist prefers. It can be subject to a number of modifications including inversion. 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.<ref>An example is said to appear in the arms of Blanluz, in [[Dauphiné]]. {{cite web|title=Frédéric Luz: Grand Armorial Universel|url=http://www.luz-herald.net/free/b4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703211814/http://www.luz-herald.net/free/b4.html|access-date=2008-06-29|archive-date=2008-07-03}}</ref> When shown as a smaller size than standard, it is a diminutive called a '''chevronel'''.

[[Image:Arms-letchworth-gc.jpg|100px|right|thumb|Chevronels, in the arms of [[Letchworth Garden City]].]]

A Chevron in Hearaldy mean: ''protection; Builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful''<ref>{{cite web|title= Heraldic symbolism @ www.fleurdelis.com|url=http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm|format=HTML}}</ref>.

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 Armand Desmondly.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

=== Origin ===

The origin seems to be the shape of the rafter of a building. It has been used early in the history of heraldry, especially in Normandy. In [[Scandinavia]] the Chevron is known as "spar" and is used on arms since the times of [[crusades]] (Example: [[Arvid Gustavsson Sparre]]).

=== Gallery ===

<gallery>

Image:BolligenTrans-coat of arms.svg|'''[[Bolligen]]''' is a [[municipalities ofTrans, Switzerland|municipalityTrans]] in the, [[BernHinterrhein (district)|Bern administrative districtHinterrhein]] of the, [[canton of BernGraubünden]], [[Switzerland]].

File:CHE Bioley-Magnoux COA.svg|''Chevron wavy'': [[Bioley-Magnoux]], [[Jura-Nord vaudois District|Jura-Nord Vaudois District]], [[Vaud]], Switzerland

Image:Flag of NAVA.svg|The flag of the [[North American Vexillological Association]].

File:Newport COA shield.svg|''Chevron inverted'': [[Newport, Wales]].

Image:CHE Bolligen COA.svg|''Chevron and chevron inverted, interlaced'': [[Bolligen]], [[Bern (district)|Bern district]], [[Canton of Bern]], Switzerland

File:CHE Avry COA.svg|''Chevronny'': [[Avry]], [[Sarine (district)|Sarine district]], [[Fribourg (canton)|Canton of Fribourg]], Switzerland

</gallery>

== Freemasonic relation ==

[[Image:Phoenician G.svg|right|45px|Phoenician gimel]]

There are similairities with the original [[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]] letter '''''G''''', the [[Gimel (letter)|Gimel]], meaning [[Camel]] and which in [[Hebrew]] is the sign of ''Reward and Punishment'' that imply that: ''man is free to choose between good and evil''<ref>{{cite web|title= About the Hebrew Gimmel|url=http://www.inner.org/hebleter/gimmel.htm|format=HTML}}</ref> and which may be related with the [[Freemason]] logo's mixture of both G and chevrons as well as the often used symbolism of black and white.

== Rank insignia ==

[[File:Lance Sergeant Brown and Sergeant A Randall of the 1st US Armoured Division were the first two men to meet during the link-up between the British Eighth and US First Armies in Tunisia, 7 April 1943. NA1821.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Rank chevrons visible on the uniforms of British and American Army [[Non-commissioned officer]]s, 1943 in [[Tunisian campaign|Tunisia]].]]

In British Military usage, the idea of using chevrons to denote rank came from whereabouts [[NCOs]] were placed in the line in infantry units. In Napoleonic times, units would form up in large, uniform blocks. Lance Corporals (and equivalents) would have marked the corner of a fire team, Corporals the corner of a squad, and Sergeants the corner of a Platoon. This led to the stylised drawing of different numbers of right angles on the sleeves, to denote corners. Over time these turned into the stylised chevrons worn today.

In Western European tradition, chevrons are used as an insignia of the ranks variously known, depending on the country, as [[non-commissioned officer]] or sub-officer ranks. This usage has become the worldwide norm, but there are many exceptions where other insignia, typically stripes but sometimes stars, are used for such ranks instead.

Many countries, such as France and Italy, use chevrons proper, or colloquially, the chevrons "point up". Many others, such as most [[Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth countries]], use inverted chevrons, or colloquially, the chevrons "point down."

In areas observing [[Commonwealth of Nations]] or [[United States]] doctrine, chevrons are used as an insignia of enlisted or NCO rank by land military forces and by police. One chevron usually designates a [[private (rank)|private]], 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 [[shoulderboard]]s towards the neck; in Commonwealth usage (and in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] and [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]), they usually point down, or on shoulderboards away from the neck.

In the United States, the Army and Marines use chevrons proper (although prior to the 20th century this was not true), while the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard use inverted chevrons. Arcs, known as "rockers", are also added to chevrons to indicate higher rank.

In the Commonwealth, the correct terminology for rank chevrons includes the number of stripes, called "bars", therefore, the image on the right hand side is properly termed a "3-bar chevron". A 1-bar chevron indicates a Private in the Canadian Army or [[Lance Corporal]] in other Commonwealth armies, a 2-bar chevron indicates a Corporal, and a 3-bar chevron a Sergeant. Canadian Forces often refer to chevrons as "hooks."

English-speaking countries tend to use three chevrons for a sergeant and two for a corporal.

=== Examples ===

<gallery>

Image:US_Army_E-2.svg|Single Chevron-Rank: [[Private (rank)|Private E2]], [[US Army]].

Image:US Army E-4.svg|Double Chevron-Rank: [[Corporal|Corporal E4]], US Army.

Image:UK-Army-OR5n6.gif|[[Sergeant]], [[British Army]] and [[Royal Marines]].

Image:17 R4 Specialist.svg|[[NATO]] Code OR-4 Specialist/Petty Officer 3

</gallery>

Canadian and Australian Forces often refer to chevrons as "hooks". In the Dutch armed forces they are nicknamed "banana peels".<ref>See [http://www.leger1939-1940.nl/Uniform/Infanterist/rang.htm Infanterist 1939-1940: rangen - Het Nederlandsche Leger 1939-1940] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412190912/http://www.leger1939-1940.nl/Uniform/Infanterist/rang.htm |date=2012-04-12 }}, 2012</ref>

=== Other uses as insignia ===

In the [[British Army]], [[Royal Marines]] and [[Royal Air Force]], chevrons are worn point down to denote non-commissioned officer rank, with one for [[lance corporal]], two for corporal, three for sergeant, and three with a crown for [[staff sergeant]] (known as [[colour sergeant]] in infantry regiments and the Royal Marines) or [[flight sergeant]] (RAF). Branch and tradition results in variations in rank titles ([[corporal of horse]] being the equivalent of sergeant in the [[Household Cavalry]]) and spellings (serjeant in [[The Rifles]]). Large chevrons are also worn on the sleeves of [[Royal Navy]] sailors to denote good conduct rather than rank.

Small chevrons are part of the insignia to indicate length of time serving in some armies. They are worn on the lower left sleeve.

Although usually associated with non-commissioned officers, the chevron was originally used as an insignia to denote [[general officer]] ranks in the British Army. It was adopted from the insignia worn by cavalry during the 18th century, in particular the [[Household Cavalry]]. It was worn on the cuffs, forearms and tails of their coats, embroidered in gold bullion for the guards and silver for dragoons regiments. [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] favoured the uniform of the Horse Guards, and his [[Windsor uniform]] followed a similar pattern. After 1768, a similar pattern uniform as worn by the King was introduced to general officers, with the number and spacing of the chevrons denoting rank. For example, a major general would wear his chevrons in pairs: two on the sleeves, and two on the tails. A lieutenant general would wear them in groups of three, and a full general's would be equidistant. This practice continued into the early Victorian era.

=== PunctuationExamples ===

<gallery>

As a part of [[punctuation]], chevrons (also known as [[guillemets]] or angle quotes) usually act as [[Quotation mark#Angled quotation marks in various European languages|quotation marks]], particularly in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[French language|French]]. Examples would be ‹single quotes› and «double quotes». In [[German language|German]] they are used as well, but in inverted form: ›single quotes‹ and »double quotes«. Chevrons are also used in Chinese punctuation, often to enclose the titles of books: ︿ and ﹀ or ︽ and ︾ for traditional vertical printing, and 〈 and 〉 or 《 and 》 for horizontal printing.

File:British Army OR-3.svg|[[Lance corporal]]<br />([[British Army]])<ref name="United Kingdom">{{cite book |title=ARMY DRESS REGULATIONS (ALL RANKS) |date=February 2016 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |___location=Part 9 Sect 2 Annex D |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/393927/response/959318/attach/8/ADR%20Part%209.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |access-date=20 March 2022 |chapter=Part 9 Badges, Headdress and Embellishments |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520120110/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/393927/response/959318/attach/8/ADR%20Part%209.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

File:Army-USA-OR-02 (Army greens).svg|[[Private (rank)#United States|Private]]<br />([[United States Army]])<ref name="US_Army">{{cite web |title=U.S. Army Ranks |url=https://www.army.mil/ranks/ |website=army.mil |publisher=United States Army |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

</gallery>

== Road markingsVexillology ==

In [[vexillology]], a chevron is a V-shaped stripe placed on a flag. It most often issues from the hoist and points toward the fly, or rises from the base and points upward. Chevrons may also be inverted and can appear in other orientations or placements across the field. The device may be narrow or broad, single or repeated, and may reach the flag’s edges or be couped (not touching them). A well-known example of a true chevron in flag design is the flag of the [[North American Vexillological Association]]. Other examples include the flag of [[Evaň|Evaň, Czech Republic]], [[Tulsky, Republic of Adygea|Tulsky, Russia]] or the flag of the [[Southern African Vexillological Association]], which contains two chevrons, one inverted. A chevron is not to be confused with a triangle, wedge, or pile, which are solid shapes rather than angled stripes.

They are also used as [[road marking]]s in some stretches of [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] [[motorway]]s, to help drivers gauge the distance to the car in front, and also on signs on sharp corners in order to denote the tightness of the bend.

<gallery>

== Other usages ==

File:Official flag of the North American Vexillological Association.svg|Flag of the [[North American Vexillological Association]] with a ''chevron inverted''

=== Corporate logos ===

File:Evaň vlajka.jpg|Flag of [[Evaň|Evaň, Czech Republic]], with a fly-pointing chevron separate from the hoist

The French automobile firm [[Citroën]] uses a logo commonly referred to as a pair of chevrons, though it originates in the shape of the teeth of special type of gears which that firm made prior to its entering the car business.

File:Flag of Tulsky (Adygeya).png|Flag of [[Tulsky, Republic of Adygea|Tulsky, Russia]]

File:Verušičky vlajka.jpg|Flag of [[Verušičky|Verušičky, Czech Republic]], with a fly chevron

File:Vimperk CZ flag.svg|Flag of [[Vimperk|Vimperk, Czech Republic]], with hoist ''chevron counterchanged''

File:Flag of Predklasteri.svg|Flag of [[Předklášteří|Předklášteří, Czech Republic]], with ''chevron "in the shape of a gothic arch"'' <ref>{{cite web |title=VEXIBÁZE – vlajky obcí České republiky |url=https://vexi.info/vexibaze/karta.php?id=549746 |website=vexi.info |publisher=VEXIBÁZE |language=cs |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>

File:Sobůlky flag CZ.jpg|Flag of [[Sobůlky|Sobůlky, Czech Republic]], with an irregular chevron

</gallery>

The British television company [[Yorkshire Television]] used a Y-shaped symbol known as "the chevron" as its logo, from when its broadcasts began in July [[1968]] until the company was absorbed into the newly-formed [[ITV plc]] in February [[2004]].

== Other uses as insignia ==

The [[Chevron Corporation]]'s logo is a pair of chevrons, one blue and one red.

{{abbreviations|section|date=September 2023|3AD, SGT}}

[[Pony International]], an American apparel and shoe company, adorns most of its shoes with a chevron, its logo.

[[File:2022 Russian Invasion vehicle marking V.svg|thumb|right|Chevron used on Russian military vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]

In some armies, small chevrons are worn on the lower left sleeve to indicate length of service, akin to [[service stripe]]s in the [[Military of the United States|U.S. military]]. The [[Israel Defense Forces]] use chevrons in various orientations as organizational designators on their vehicles, specifically which company within a battalion they belong to.<ref>{{cite book

In the [[Microsoft Windows]] [[operating system]], the name "chevron" is used for a menu that contains the toolbar icons which do not fit in the space available on the toolbar.

| last = Gelbart

| first = Marsh

| title = Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985&ndash;2004

| publisher = [[Osprey Publishing]]

| year = 2004

| page = 44

| isbn = 978-1-84176-579-2}}</ref>

[[NATO]] armed forces use the "Λ" chevron as insignia to represent the alliance between different armies, during peacekeeping missions.

In the [[Stargate]] [[science fiction]] universe, the outer ring of the [[Stargate (device)|Stargate device]] feature nine chevrons. In normal use, seven chevrons lock in to place as a destination Stargate is dialed.

The US-led [[Coalition of the Gulf War|coalition]] that took part in [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]] used a black "Λ" chevron in a similar manner as NATO forces use it on their ground vehicles. The design was created by a soldier from the [[3rd Armored Division (United States)|3rd Armored Division]] after the US military sought markings to identify coalition vehicles due to increased fratricide incidents.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} Its symbolism, according to the artist SGT Grzywa, was meant to be a V for Victory, a tribute to WWII Coalition Forces.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Boeing calls some of its afterburner jets "variable-geometry chevrons".

"V" chevrons were historically used as the insignia of the Russian [[Volunteer Army]] during the [[Russian Civil War]], and in modern times as [[Z (military symbol)|one of the military insignia]] by Russian forces during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], and Russian civilians have used it in support of their government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-07 |title=Why has the letter Z become the symbol of war for Russia? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/why-has-the-letter-z-become-the-symbol-of-war-for-russia |access-date=2022-03-07 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-07 |title=Ivan Kuliak: Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol? |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60644832 |access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

=== Geology ===

The term chevron has been used to refer to a geologic feature found in coastal regions all over the world. According to an [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/science/14WAVE.html?ex=1321160400&en=35b395ffd080eb47&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all article] in The New York Times, chevron is a "enormous wedge-shaped sediment deposit," possibly created by an enormous tsunami after an asteroid impact. However, this idea is very controversial; many scientists believe these features are generated by wind. Similar features, called parabolic dunes, are found on the interior of continents, where they could not be explained by tsunamis. Also, tsunamis usually leave thin sheet-like deposits of sand that do not have the distinct chevron shape.

French car maker [[Citroën]] uses a double chevron as its logo.

=== Sports team colours ===

Chevrons on their side are also used as road signs to denote bends.

The '''chevron''' design, with the point downwards, is a popular design for team kits in the sport of [[rugby league]]. The World Champions, Australia, feature a gold chevron on a green background.

From the early 1950s until the early 2000s, Simplex, Faraday and many other companies manufactured the chevron series fire alarm manual pull station. The handle was shaped in a way where the handle looked like an inverted chevron.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://2001part.com/vintage-rare-simplex-4251-1-fire-alarm-pull-station-chevron/ |title=*Vintage* *Rare* Simplex 4251-1 Fire Alarm Pull Station Chevron |date=2019-07-13 |publisher=Simplex 2001 Parts for Sale |language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-10}}</ref>

[[image:Aus-shirt.GIF|right|thumb|200px|Australia team jersey]]

==See also==

The team colours of the 2007 World Club Champions, [[St Helens RFC]], are a red chevron on a white shirt.

* [[Arrow (symbol)]]

* [[Circumflex]], a chevron-shaped diacritical mark

* [[Caron|Caron/haček]], a diacritical mark known as "inverted chevron"

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{heraldry}}

{{commons category|Chevron (insignia)}}

{{Heraldry}}

{{Vexillology}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chevron (Insignia)}}

[[Category:Heraldic ordinaries]]

[[Category:Ornaments]]

[[Category:Military heraldry]]

[[Category:Military insignia]]

[[Category:Architectural elements]]

[[fr:Liste de pièces héraldiques#Chevron]]

[[de:Chevron (Uniform)]]

[[no:Sparre]]