Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FLAG, n.¹ [W. llec; Ir. liag, a broad flat stone; allied perhaps to lay.]

A flat stone, or a pavement of flat stones.

FLAG, n.² [W. llaç, a blade.]

An aquatic plant, with a bladed leaf, probably so called from its bending or yielding to the wind.

FLAG, n.³ [G. flagge; D. vlag, vlagge; Dan. flag; Sw. flagg; allied probably to the preceding word, in the sense of bending or spreading.]

An ensign or colors; a cloth on which are usually painted or wrought certain figures, and borne on a staff. In the army, a banner by which one regiment is distinguished from another. In the marine, a banner or standard by which the ships of one nation are distinguished from those of another, or by which an admiral is distinguished from other ships of his squadron. In the British navy, an admiral's flag is displayed at the main-top-gallant-mast-head, a vice-admiral's at the fore-top-gallant-mast-head, and a rear-admiral's at the mizzen-top-gallant-mast-head. To strike or lower the flag, is to pull it down upon the cap in token of respect or submission. To strike the flag in an engagement, is the sign of surrendering. To hang out the white flag, is to ask quarter; or in some cases, to manifest a friendly design. The red flag, is a sign of defiance or battle. To hang the flag half mast high, is a token or signal of mourning. Flag-officer, an admiral; the commander of a squadron. Flag-ship, the ship which bears the admiral, and in which his flag is displayed. Flag-staff, staff that elevates the flag. Encyc. Mar. Dict.

FLAG, v.i. [W. llacâu, or llaciaw, to relax, to droop; llegu, to flag; L. flacceo; Sp. flaquear; Port fraquear, to flag; Ir. lag, weak. See Flaccid. The sense is primarily to bend, or rather to recede, to lag.]

1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down as flexible bodies; to be loose and yielding; as, the flagging sails. Dryden.
2. To grow spiritless or dejected; to droop; to grow languid; as, the spirits flag.
3. To grow weak; to lose vigor; as, the strength flags.
4. To become dull or languid. The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.

FLAG, v.t.¹

To let fall into feebleness; to suffer to drop; as, to flag the wings. Prior.

FLAG, v.t.²

To lay with flat stones. The sides and floor were all flagged with excellent marble. Sandys.

FLAG'BROOM, n.

A broom for sweeping flags. Johnson.

FLAG'E-LET, a. [Fr. flageolet, from L. flatus, by corruption, or Gr. κλαγιαλος, πλαγιος, oblique, and αυλος, a flute. Lunier.]

A little flute; a small wind instrument of music. More.

FLAG'EL-LANT, n. [L. flagellans, from flagello, to flog.]

One who whips himself in religious discipline. The Flagellants were a fanatical sect which arose in Italy A. D. 1260, who maintained that flagellation was of equal virtue with baptism and the sacrament. They walked in procession with shoulders hare, and whipped themselves till the blood ran down their bodies, to obtain the mercy of God, and appease his wrath against the vices of the age. Encyc.

FLAG'EL-LATE, v.t.

To whip; to scourge.

FLAG-EL-LA'TION, n. [L. flagello, to beat or whip, to flog, from flagellum, a whip, scourge or flail, D. vlegel, G. flegel, Fr. fleau. See Flail and Flog.]

A beating or whipping; a flogging; the discipline of the scourge. Garth.

FLAG'GED, pp.

Laid with flat stones.

FLAG'GI-NESS, n.

Laxity; limberness; want of tension.

FLAG'GING, ppr.

Growing weak; drooping; laying with flat stones.

FLAG'GY, a.

1. Weak; flexible; limber; not stiff. Dryden.
2. Weak in taste; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. Bacon.
3. Abounding with flags, the plant.

FLA-GI'TIOUS, a. [L. flagitium, a scandalous crime, probably from the root of flagrant.]

1. Deeply criminal; grossly wicked; villainous; atrocious; scandalous; as, a flagitious action or crime. South.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; wicked; as, a flagitious person. Pope.
3. Marked or infected with scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times. Pope.

FLA-GI'TIOUS-LY, adv.

With extreme wickedness.

FLA-GI'TIOUS-NESS, n.

Extreme wickedness; villainy.

FLAG'ON, n. [L. lagena; Gr. λαγηνος; Ir. clagun; Fr. flacon; Sam. Castel. col. 3013.]

A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick with love. Cant. ii.

FLA'GRAN-CY, n. [See Flagrant.]

1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.] Lust causeth flagrancy in the eyes. Bacon.
2. Excess; enormity; as, the flagrancy of a crime.

FLA'GRANT, a. [L. flagrans, from flagro, to burn, Gr. φλεγω, φλογοω. In D. flakkeren is to blaze.]

1. Burning; ardent; eager; as, flagrant desires. Hooker.
2. Glowing; red; flushed. See Sapho, at her toilet's greasy task, / Then issuing flagrant to an evening mask. Pope.
3. Red; inflamed. The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back. Prior. [The foregoing senses are unusual.]
4. Flaming in notice; glaring; notorious; enormous; as, a flagrant crime.

FLAGRANTE-BELLO, n. [L.]

The war raging.

FLAGRANTE-DELICTO, n. [L.]

During the perpetration of the crime.

FLA'GRANT-LY, adv.

Ardently; notoriously. Warton.

FLA'GRATE, v.t.

To burn. [Little used.] Greenhill.