flag¹ /flag/

1. A piece usu of bunting or other cloth with a design, used as an emblem for military or naval purposes, signalling, decoration, display, propaganda, etc
2. A conspicuous sign to mark a position, eg of a golf-hole, or to convey information, such as that a taxi is available for hire
3. A marker
4. A flagship (historical)
5. A bushy tail

To indicate or inform by flag-signals

1. To decorate with flags
2. To inform by flag-signals
3. To mark (eg a passage or item in a book) for attention, by means of a bookmark, pen or pencil mark, etc
4. To draw attention to
5. To indicate or code (material on computer tape, etc) so that particular items or classes of data may be found or extracted

flaggˈy adjective

1. Like a banner
2. Spreading, flabby

flagˈ-captain noun

The captain of a flagship

flag day noun

1. A day on which collectors solicit contributions to a charity in exchange for small flags or stickers as badges to secure immunity for the rest of the day
2. (with caps) 14 June, anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes (US)

flagˈ-lieutenant noun

An officer in a flagship, corresponding to an aide-de-camp in the army

flagˈman noun

A person who signals with a flag

flag of convenience noun

A foreign flag under which a shipping company registers its tonnage to avoid taxation or other burdens at home

flag of distress noun

A flag displayed by a vessel as a signal of distress, usu upside down or at half-mast

flagˈ-officer noun

A naval officer privileged to carry a flag denoting his rank of admiral, vice-admiral, rear-admiral or commodore

flag of truce noun

A white flag displayed during a battle when some peaceful communication is desired

flagˈpole, flagˈstaff or flagˈstick noun

A pole, etc for displaying a flag

flag rank noun

The rank of a flag-officer

flagˈship noun

1. The ship carrying an admiral and flying his flag
2. Anything of great importance or pre-eminence (figurative; also adjective)

flagˈ-wagging noun

1. Signalling by flag
2. Aggressive patriotism or imperialism (also flagˈ-waving)

flagˈ-waver noun

flagˈ-waving adjective

Serving merely to show (superficial) support for or allegiance to eg a nation or a political party

black, red, white and yellow flag see under black, red¹, white and yellow respectively.

• dirty linen
• dirty look
• dirty looks
• dirty money
• dirty old man
• dirty old men
• dirty trick
• dirty tricks
• dirty war
• dirty wars
• dirty weekend
• dirty weekends
• dirty word
• dirty words
• dirty work
• dis
• dis-
• dis.
• Dis
• disa
• disabilities
• disability
• disable
• disabled
• disablement