I. ˈflag also ˈflāg noun
Etymology: Middle English flagge reed, rush
Date: 14th century
: any of various monocotyledonous plants with long ensiform leaves: as
a. : iris ; especially : a wild iris
b. : sweet flag
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: probably akin to fag end of cloth — more at fag end
Date: 1530
1. : 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.
a. : the tail of some dogs (as a setter or hound) ; also : the long hair fringing a dog's tail
b. : the tail of a deer
3.
a. : something used like a flag to signal or attract attention
b. : one of the cross strokes of a musical note less than a quarter note in value
4. : something represented by a flag: as
a. : flagship
b. : an admiral functioning in his office of command
c. : nationality ; especially : the nationality of registration of a ship or aircraft
III. transitive verb
( flagged ; flag·ging )
Date: 1856
1. : to signal with or as if with a flag ; especially : to signal to stop
flagged the train
— often used with down
2. : to mark or identify with or as if with a flag
flagged potential problems in the proposal
3. : to call a penalty on : penalize
a lineman flagged for being offside
IV. intransitive verb
( flagged ; flag·ging )
Etymology: probably from flag (II)
Date: 1545
1. : to hang loose without stiffness
2.
a. : to become unsteady, feeble, or spiritless
b. : to decline in interest, attraction, or value
flagging stock prices
V. noun
Etymology: Middle English flagge turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga slab; akin to Old English flōh chip
Date: 1604
: a hard evenly stratified stone that splits into flat pieces suitable for paving ; also : a piece of such stone
VI. transitive verb
( flagged ; flag·ging )
Date: 1615
: to lay (as a pavement) with flags