FLAG, v.i. [L. flacceo. See Flaccid. The sense is primarily to bend, or rather to recede, to lag.]

A flat stone, or a pavement of flat stones.

An aquatic plant, with a bladed leaf, probably so called from its bending or yielding to the wind.

An ensign or colors; a cloth on which are usually painted or wrought certain figures, and borne on a staff. In the army, a banner by which one regiment is distinguished from another. In the marine, a banner or standard by which the ships of one nation are distinguished from those of another, or by which an admiral is distinguished from other ships of his squadron. In the British navy, an admiral's flag is displayed at the main-top-gallant-mast-head, a vice-admiral's at the fore-top-gallant-mast-head, and a rear-admiral's at the mizzen-top-gallant-mast-head. To strike or lower the flag, is to pull it down upon the cap in token of respect or submission. To strike the flag in an engagement, is the sign of surrendering. To hang out the white flag, is to ask quarter; or in some cases, to manifest a friendly design. The red flag, is a sign of defiance or battle. To hang the flag half mast high, is a token or signal of mourning. Flag-officer, an admiral; the commander of a squadron. Flag-ship, the ship which bears the admiral, and in which his flag is displayed. Flag-staff, staff that elevates the flag. Encyc. Mar. Dict.

1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down as flexible bodies; to be loose and yielding; as, the flagging sails. Dryden.
2. To grow spiritless or dejected; to droop; to grow languid; as, the spirits flag.
3. To grow weak; to lose vigor; as, the strength flags.
4. To become dull or languid. The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.

To let fall into feebleness; to suffer to drop; as, to flag the wings. Prior.

To lay with flat stones. The sides and floor were all flagged with excellent marble. Sandys.

1. To hang loose without stiffness] to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
   
   

   As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast. T. Moore.

2. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as, to flag the wings.
   
   
   prior.
3. That which flags or hangs down loosely.
4. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.
5. An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging to either of the genera Iris and Acorus.
   
   

   Cooper's flag, the cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the long leaves of which are placed between the staves of barrels to make the latter water-tight. -- Corn flag. See under 2d Corn. -- Flag broom, a coarse of broom, originally made of flags or rushes. -- Flag root, the root of the sweet flag. -- Sweet flag. See Calamus, n., 2.

6. To furnish or deck out with flags.
7. A flat stone used for paving.
   
   
   Woodward.
8. To lay with flags of flat stones.
   
   

   The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble. Sandys.

9. One of the wing feathers next the body of a bird; -- called also flag feather.
10. To decoy (game) by waving a flag, handkerchief, or the like to arouse the animal's curiosity.
    
    

    The antelope are getting continually shyer and more difficult to flag. T. Roosevelt.

11. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the spirits flag; the streugth flags.
    
    

    The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.

    Syn. -- To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.

12. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of.
    
    

    Nothing so flags the spirits. Echard.

13. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information] -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.
14. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance.
15. Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
16. A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
    
    
    (b)