from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flag \Flag\, n. [Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D.
vlag. See {Flag} to hang loose.]
1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.
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2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to
indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask
information; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved
by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors;
as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.
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3. (Zool.)
(a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of
certain hawks, owls, etc.
(b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
(c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter.
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4. (Zool.) One of the wing feathers next the body of a bird;
-- called also {flag feather}.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Black flag}. See under {Black}.
{Flag captain}, {Flag leutenant}, etc., special officers
attached to the flagship, as aids to the flag officer.
{Flag officer}, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an
admiral, or commodore.
{Flag of truse}, a white flag carried or displayed to an
enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose
of making some communication not hostile.
{Flag share}, the flag officer's share of prize money.
{Flag station} (Railroad), a station at which trains do not
stop unless signaled to do so, by a flag hung out or
waved.
{National flag}, a flag of a particular country, on which
some national emblem or device, is emblazoned.
{Red flag}, a flag of a red color, displayed as a signal of
danger or token of defiance; the emblem of anarchists.
{To dip, the flag}, to mlower it and quickly restore it to
its place; -- done as a mark of respect.
{To hang out the white flag}, to ask truce or quarter, or, in
some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a
white flag.
{To hang the flag half-mast high} or {To hang the flag
half-staff} or {To hang the flag at half-staff}, to raise it
only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of
mourning.
{To strike the flag} or {To lower the flag}, to haul it down,
in token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of
surrender.
{Yellow flag}, the quarantine flag of all nations; also
carried at a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious
disease is on board.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
National \Na"tion*al\ (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. national.]
1. Of or pertaining to a nation; common to a whole people or
race; public; general; as, a national government,
language, dress, custom, calamity, etc.
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2. Attached to one's own country or nation.
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{National anthem}, a popular song or hymn which has become by
general acceptance the recognized musical expression of
the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the
King" is called the national anthem of England.
{National bank}, the official common name of a class of
banking corporations established under the laws of the
United States.
{National flag}. See under {Flag}.
{National guard}, a body of militia, or a local military
organization, as in Paris during the French Revolution, or
as certain bodies of militia in other European countries
and in the United States.
{National salute}, a salute consisting of as many guns as
there are States in the Union. [U.S.]
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