FLAG

I. noun Etymology: Middle English ~ge reed, rush Date: 14th century any of various monocotyledonous plants with long ensiform leaves: as, iris , sweet ~ , II. noun Usage: often attributive see: fag end Date: 1530 a usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol (as of a nation), as a signaling device, or as a decoration, 2. the tail of some dogs (as a setter or hound), the tail of a deer, 3. something used like a ~ to signal or attract attention, one of the cross strokes of a musical note less than a quarter note in value, something represented by a ~: as, ~ship , an admiral functioning in his office of command, nationality , III. transitive verb (~ged; ~ging) Date: 1856 to signal with or as if with a ~, to mark or identify with or as if with a ~ , to call a penalty on ; penalize , IV. intransitive verb (~ged; ~ging) Etymology: probably from 2~ Date: 1545 to hang loose without stiffness, 2. to become unsteady, feeble, or spiritless, to decline in interest, attraction, or value , V. noun Etymology: Middle English ~ge turf, perhaps from Old Norse ~a slab; akin to Old English flōh chip Date: 1604 a hard evenly stratified stone that splits into flat pieces suitable for paving, VI. transitive verb (~ged; ~ging) Date: 1615 to lay (as a pavement) with ~s