- To hang out the white flag
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
3. (Zo["o]l.) (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. [1913 Webster]
4. (Zo["o]l.) 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.