a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.; ensign; standard; banner; pennant.

Ornithology . the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks; the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.

Hunting . the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.

Journalism .

the nameplate of a newspaper.

masthead ( def. 1 ) .

the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.

a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.

Music . hook ( def. 12a ) .

Movies, Television . a small gobo.

Usually, flags. the ends of the bristles of a brush, esp. a paintbrush, when split.

Computers . a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.

to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags.

to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes fol. by down )

to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.

to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.

to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.

to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.

(of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles. ?

strike the flag

to relinquish command, as of a ship.

to submit or surrender

His financial situation is growing worse, but he's not ready to strike the flag. Also, strike one's flag.

verb

do well , increase , rise , strengthen

noun

banderole , banner , bannerol , burgee , colors , emblem , ensign , gonfalon , jack , pennon , standard , streamer , banneret , color , oriflamme , pennant , ancient , bunting , fleur-de-luce. associated words:furl , guidon , hoist , iris , pencel , pennoncel , unfurl , vexillum , waft , waif

verb

abate , deteriorate , die , droop , ebb , fade , fail , faint , languish , peter out * , pine , sag , sink , slump , succumb , taper off , wane , weaken , weary , wilt , gesture , give a sign to , hail , indicate , motion , salute , warn , wave , semaphore , decline , degenerate , waste , banderole , banner , blue peter , burgee , cattail , colors , emblem , ensign , flaunt , furl , guidon , hoist , iris , jack , jolly roger , masthead , old glory , oriflamme , pendant , pennant , pennon , signal , standard , stars and stripes , streamer , strike , symbol , unfurl , yellow jack