FLAFF, flaf, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to flap: to pant.--_n._ a flutter of the
wings: a puff.--_v.i._ FLAF'FER, to flutter. [Imit.]
FLAG, flag, _v.i._ to grow languid or spiritless.--_pr.p._ flag'ging;
_pa.p._ flagged.--_n._ FLAG'GINESS.--_adj._ FLAG'GY, limp, flabby. [Perh.
O. Fr. _flac_--L. _flaccus_; prob. influenced by imit. forms as _flap_.]
FLAG, flag, _n._ a popular name for many plants with sword-shaped leaves,
mostly growing in moist situations, sometimes specially the species of iris
or flower-de-luce--esp. the yellow flag: the acorus or sweet flag: (_B._)
reed-grass.--_ns._ FLAG'-BAS'KET, a basket made of reeds for carrying
tools; FLAG'GINESS.--_adj._ FLAG'GY, abounding in flags.--_n._ FLAG'-WORM,
a worm or grub bred among flags or reeds. [Ety. obscure; cf. Dut. _flag_.]
FLAG, flag, _n._ the ensign of a ship or of troops: a banner.--_v.t._ to
decorate with flags: to inform by flag-signals.--_ns._ FLAG'-CAP'TAIN, in
the navy, the captain of the ship which bears the admiral's flag;
FLAG'-LIEUTEN'ANT, an officer in a flag-ship, corresponding to an
aide-de-camp in the army; FLAG'-OFF'ICER, a naval officer privileged to
carry a flag denoting his rank--admiral, vice-admiral, rear-admiral, or
commodore; FLAG'-SHIP, the ship in which an admiral sails, and which
carries his flag; FLAG'STAFF, a staff or pole on which a flag is
displayed.--FLAG OF DISTRESS, a flag displayed as a signal of
distress--usually upside down or at half-mast; FLAG OF TRUCE, a white flag
displayed during war when some pacific communication is intended between
the hostile parties; BLACK FLAG, a pirate's flag, pirates generally; DIP
THE FLAG, to lower the flag and then hoist it--a token of respect; HANG OUT
THE RED FLAG, to give a challenge to battle; STRIKE, or LOWER, THE FLAG, to
pull it down as a token of respect, submission, or surrender; WHITE FLAG,
an emblem of peace; YELLOW FLAG, hoisted to show pestilence on board, also
over ships, &c., in quarantine, and hospitals, &c., in time of war. [Prob.
Scand.; Dan. _flag_; Dut. _vlag_, Ger. _flagge_.]
FLAG, flag, _n._ a stone that separates in flakes or layers: a flat stone
used for paving--also FLAG'STONE.--_v.t._ to pave with flagstones.--_n._
FLAG'GING, flagstones: a pavement of flagstones. [A form of _flake_; Ice.
_flaga_, a flag or slab.]
FLAGELLATE, flaj'el-[=a]t, _v.t._ to whip or scourge.--_ns._
FLAGEL'LANTISM; FLAGELL[=A]'TION; FLAG'ELL[=A]TOR, FLAGEL'LANT (also
flaj'-), one who scourges himself in religious discipline.--_adjs._
FLAG'ELLATORY; FLAGELLIF'EROUS; FLAGEL'LIFORM.--_n._ FLAGEL'LUM, a scourge:
(_bot._) a runner: (_biol._) a large cilium or appendage to certain
infusorians, &c. [L. _flagell[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_flagellum_, dim. of
_flagrum_, a whip.]
FLAGEOLET, flaj'o-let, _n._ the modern form of the old flute-à-bec, or
straight flute, the simplest kind of which is the tin whistle with six
holes. [Fr., dim. of O. Fr. _flageol_, _flajol_, a pipe; not through a
supposed Low L. _flaut[=i]olus_--from _flauta_, a flute.]
FLAGITATE, flaj'i-t[=a]t, _v.t._ (_Carlyle_) to entreat, importune.--_n._
FLAGIT[=A]'TION.
FLAGITIOUS, fla-jish'us, _adj._ grossly wicked: guilty of enormous
crimes.--_adv._ FLAGI'TIOUSLY.--_n._ FLAGI'TIOUSNESS. [L.
_flagitiosus_--_flagitium_, a disgraceful act--_flagr[=a]re_, to burn.]
FLAGON, flag'un, _n._ a vessel with a narrow neck for holding liquids. [Fr.
_flacon_ for _flascon_--Low L. _flasco_. See FLASK.]
FLAGRANT, fl[=a]'grant, _adj._ glaring: notorious: enormous.--_ns._
FL[=A]'GRANCE, FL[=A]'GRANCY.--_adv._ FL[=A]'GRANTLY. [L. _flagrans_,
_pr.p._ of _flagr[=a]re_, to burn.]
FLAIL, fl[=a]l, _n._ an implement for threshing corn, consisting of a
wooden bar (the _swingle_) hinged or tied to a handle: a medieval weapon
with spiked iron swingle.--_v.t._ to strike with, or as if with, a flail.
[A.S. _fligel_, prob. from L. _flagellum_, a scourge.]