flag

flag

flag¹ [flag]

n.

[LME flagge < FLAG⁴, in obs. sense “to flutter”]

1. a piece of cloth or bunting, often attached to a staff, with distinctive colors, patterns, or symbolic devices, used as a national or state symbol, as a signal, etc.; banner; standard; ensign

2. [pl.] Now Rare long feathers or quills, as on a hawk

3. the tail of a deer

4. the bushy tail of certain dogs, as setters and some hounds

5. something, as a tab of metal or cardboard, that is attached to a card, folder, etc. so that it may be found easily, as in a file

6. Comput. a character, symbol, etc. used to mark data or a record for special attention

7. Music any of the lines extending from a stem, indicating whether the note is an eighth, sixteenth, etc.

vt.

flagged, flagging

1. to decorate or mark with flags

2. to signal with or as with a flag; esp., to signal to stop: often with down

3. to send (a message) by signaling

4. to mark with or as with a FLAG¹ (n. 5 & 6) [to flag a word for deletion]

——————

dip the flag

to salute by lowering a flag briefly

flag² [flag]

n.

[ME flagge < ON flaga, slab of stone < IE * plāk-, to spread out, flat < base * plā > PLAIN¹]

FLAGSTONE

flag³ [flag]

n.

[ME flagge < ?]

1.

a) any of various wild irises with flat fans of sword-shaped leaves and white, blue, or yellow flowers

b) any of various cultivated irises

2. SWEET FLAG

3. CATTAIL

4. the flower or leaf of any of these plants

flag⁴ [flag]

vi.

flagged, flagging [16th c., prob. < ON flǫgra, to flutter < IE base * plāk-, to strike > FLAW²]

1. to become limp; droop

2. to lose strength; grow weak or tired [his energy flagged]