1539. David Lyndsay, Thrie Estaitis. Works [Ed. Laing, 1879], ii.
109. Ane fistand flag.
4. (common).—The menstrual cloth. Variants are bandage; clout;
danger-signal; diaper; double clout (Durfey); gentleman’s pleasure
garden padlock; periodicity rag; the red rag; sanitary towel;
window-curtain.
The Flag (or Danger-Signal) is up = “The Captain’s at home” (Grose),
i.e., the menstrual flux is on.
English Synonyms.—To have domestic afflictions, or the D.A.’s; to have
the flowers (q.v.); to have one’s grandmother, or little friend, or
auntie, with one; to have them (or it) on; to be in a state of ‘no
thoroughfare’; to have the red rag on; to be road-making; to have the
street up for repairs; to be at Number One, London; to have ‘the gate
locked and the key lost.’
French Synonyms.—Avoir ses cardinales (literally, to have one’s reds);
avoir les histoires; avoir les affaires (common); avoir ses anglais (in
allusion to the scarlet of English soldiers); broyer des tomates (=
tomato-crushing); avoir son marquis (Cotgrave); avoir les fleurs
rouges; avoir sa chemise tachée (Cotgrave); voir Sophie; avoir les
ordinaires.
Italian Synonyms.—Marchese (Florio), marchesano (= menses. Michel says,
Art. marque = a month, a woman. “Il ne saurait être douteux que ce nom
ne soit venu à cette division de l’année, de l’infirmité périodique
qu’ont les marques, ou femmes, lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette
et vaquer à ses purifications menstruelles, fait marquer les logis
feminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n’a que son impression
rouge”).
To Fly the Flag, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To post a notice that ‘hands’
are wanted. See also Fly the Flag, post.
Flag of Defiance, subs. phr. (old nautical).—A drunken roysterer. For
synonyms, see Elbow-crooker.
To hang out the flag of defiance (or bloody flag), verb. phr.—To be
continuously drunk. [An allusion to the ‘crimson face’ (Cotgrave) and
the pugnacity of certain terms of inebriety.] For synonyms, see rinks.
1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Canting Crew, s.v. The flag of
defiance is out (among the Tarrs) the Fellow’s Face is very Red,
and he is Drunk.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Flag-flasher, subs. (common).—One sporting a badge or other ensign of
office (cap, apron, uniform, etc.) when off duty.—Cf., Flag, sense 2.
Flag-about, subs. (old).—A strumpet. [From Flag, a paving-stone]. For
synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.
Flag-Flying.—See Flag.
Flag of Distress, subs. phr. (common).—1. A card announcing ‘lodgings,’
or ‘board and lodgings.’ Hence, any overt sign of poverty.
2. (common).—A flying shirt-tail; in America, a letter in the
post-office (q.v.).
Flagger, subs. (common).—A street-walker. For synonyms, see
Barrack-hack and Tart.
1865. Daily Paper, ‘Police Report.’ She wasn’t a low sort at
all—she wasn’t a Flagger, as we call it. So I replies, ‘I am well,
thankee; and am happy to say I feel as such.’
Flags, subs. (common).—Linen drying and flying in the wind. For
synonyms, see Snow.
Flag Unfurled, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A man of the world.
Flag-Wagging, subs. (military).—Flag-signal drill.
Flam, subs. (colloquial).—Nonsense (for synonyms, see Gammon); humbug;
flattery; or, a lie: as a regular flam (for synonyms, see Whopper). Cf.
FLim-flam.