A hydrogen balloon was sometimes attached to the end of the pennant to keep it flying. It is not always easy to distinguish a pennant from a flag. In naval terms certain pennants have a significance out of all proportion to their size. For example, for the Russian-American Company flag a ship flying the flag was a merchant ship but a ship flying the same flag and a pennant was a warship. Reeve means to pull the halyard through the truck, raising or lowering a flag.
Staff is a pole a flag hangs on.
A state ensign is a flag used at sea by government ships. Many state flags are the same as national flags but with the country's coat of arms added. Trailing an uncommon method of saluting using a flag on a pole. The flag is lowered until it just touches the ground for a few seconds, then raised smartly back up the pole. Practiced in some monarchies as a salute to a royal member.