Flag

Pronunciation

• IPA: /flæɡ/
• North American also IPA: /fleɪɡ/, /flɛɡ/
• Rhymes: -æɡ

From Middle English flag, flagge ("flag"), further etymology uncertain. Perhaps from or related to early Middle English flage ("name for a baby's garment") and Old English flagg, flacg ("cataplasm, poultice, plaster"). Related to Dutch vlag ("flag"), German Flagge ("flag"), Swedish flagg ("flag"), Danish flag ("flag, ship's flag"). Compare also Middle English flacken ("to flutter, palpitate"), Swedish dialectal flage ("to flutter in the wind"), Old Norse flögra ("to flap about"). Akin to Old High German flogarōn ("to flutter"), Old High German flogezen ("to flutter, flicker"), Middle English flakeren ("to move quickly to and fro"), Old English flacor ("fluttering, flying"). More at flack, flacker.

Full definition of flag

Noun

1. A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
2. (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
3. (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
4. The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
5. (computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
6. (computer science) In a command line interface, a notation requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
7. (British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.

Synonyms

• (computer science: true-or-false value) Boolean
• (computer science: CLI notation) switch

Derived terms

Verb

1. To furnish or deck out with flags.
2. To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
• 2011, January 8, Chris Bevan, Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds, Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside.
3. (often with down) To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.Please flag down a taxi for me.
4. To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
5. (often with up) To note, mark or point out for attention.I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
6. (computing) To signal (an event).The compiler flagged three errors.
7. (computing) To set a program variable to true.Flag the debug option before running the program.

Probably from Old Norse.

Online Etymology Dictionary|flag

Verb

1. (intransitive) To weaken, become feeble.His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
• Jonathan SwiftThe pleasures of the town begin to flag.
• 2012, December 29, Paul Doyle, Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle, The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away.
2. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
• T. Mooreas loose it sail flagged around the mast
3. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.to flag the wings
4. To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
• EchardNothing so flags the spirits.

Of uncertain origin; compare Danish flæg.

Noun

1. Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus.
• before 1899, Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill:And laden barges floatBy banks of myosote;And scented flag and golden flower-de-lysDelay the loitering boat.

Derived terms

• sweet flag

Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

Noun

1. (obsolete except in dialects) A slice of turf; a sod.
2. A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
3. (geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.

Verb

1. To lay down flagstones.
• Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.

Noun

1. A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
2. A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
3. The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
4. (music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value