Flag

(flug.) [From A.S. fleogan, to fly.] (Bot.) See IRIS. -[From Icel.flake, anything flat.] Abroad flat stone, used in the construction of pavements, which latter hence take the name of flags.-[From A.S. fleogan.] A general name for ensigns, standards, colors, banners, .; hence, in nautical parlance, to strike the F., in an engagement, is the sign of surrender; to lower the F., to pull it down in token of respect or submi ion; to hang out the white F., to ask for truce or quarter;to hoist the red F., is a challenge of defiance to battle, implying also that no quarter will be given; to hang the F. half-mast high, is a sign or token of mourning. F. are distinctively symbols of nationality, and are, besides, used at sea as signals for communication of intelligence between ships. Other significations also attach to F. of one color only; thus, a white F. is af lag of truce; a black F., the emblem of piracy, and of death to all prisoners; and a yellow F., a symbol that marks a ve el to be in quarantine, as having dangerous sickne on board. A blue F., with a central square of white, is technically called a blue-peter, and is hoisted when a ship is about to sail as a signal of departure; a short triangularF., is known as a burgee; one of the same shape, but longer, as a signal-pendant, or pennant; avery long narrow ribbon-like F., tapering to a point, is called a pennant; and when of extra width at its inner extremity, a broad-pennant-hoisted alone by the ship which carries the admiral or commodore of a fleet or squadron of ships of war; a square F. with a triangular piece cut out of the furthest end from the halyards, with the point inwards, is called a cornet, or swallow-tail, .-F.-SHIP. (Ναυ.) Aship of war which has on board the officer in chief command of the fleet or squadron of which the said ship forms a unit; as, an admiral's flag-ship. F.-OFFICERS aro those who command the several squadrons of afleet, under the commander-in-chief; thus,a rear-admiral is aF.-officer. See cut, fronting p. 1. [s. 368]