'To hang the flag half-staff' definitions:
Definition of 'To hang the flag half-staff'
From: 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. [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. (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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]