Jack (flag)A jack is a flag flown from a short jackstaff at the bow (front) of a vessel, while the ensign is worn [flown] on the stern (rear). Jacks on bowsprits or foremasts appeared in the 17th century. A country may have different jacks for different purposes, especially when (as in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands) the naval jack is forbidden to other vessels. The United Kingdom has an official civil jack; the Netherlands has several unofficial ones.
Spar (sailing)A spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fibre used in the rigging of a sailing vessel to carry or support its sail. These include yards, booms, and masts, which serve both to deploy sail and resist compressive and bending forces, as well as the bowsprit and spinnaker pole. In larger vessels during the Age of Sail, spare spars could be roped together to provide a temporary surface known as a "spar deck".
Bow (watercraft)The bow () is the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is farthest forward when the vessel is underway in the usual direction. The aft end of the boat is the stern. Prow may be used as a synonym for bow, or it may refer specifically to the foremost part of the bow above the waterline. FunctionA ship's bow should be designed to enable the hull to pass efficiently through the water.
FlagA flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design, often flown from a pole and used for symbolic, signalling, or decorative purposes. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed on such pieces of fabric. The study of flags is known as "vexillology" from the Latin vexillum, meaning "flag" or "banner".*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.