To hang the flag at half-staff
(gcide) | 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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