signal flag
1
3.8
- noun
- Specialized
:
bandera de señal
- The sailors used various signal flags to communicate their intentions while at sea.
Examples
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According to the VHS racing signal flags, this would have been a green flag to signal "Start - Course is Clear." (Virginia Historical Society Mss1 K6853 b47)
Blog text (13) -
The VHS has a set of racing signal flags used in early automobile racing.
Blog text (13) -
Men with red signal flags sent messages across the river.
Fiction book (1995) -
These signal flags seem to be similar to the ones used in major racing leagues today.
Blog text (13) -
Because there was no standardization to the signal flags, some tracks printed them on racing programs.
Blog text (13) -
We had signal flags?
Fiction book (1991) -
Close-up of the set of metal plates, which indicate the proper signal for the collection of racing signal flags.
Blog text (13) -
The crooked red signal flag lay in the middle of the pavement, pointing south.
Fiction book (2002) -
The vessel was decked out with all its signal flags upon the bare poles of the masts, so that it appeared ready for a festival.
Fiction book (1990) -
The society also has two racing signal flags that do not have any identification plates, including a black flag (2006.124.4), which for modern racing indicates a penalty of some sort, and a yellow flag with a dark blue or purple disc (2006.124.7), for which I found no modern equivalent.
Blog text (13)
Synonyms
A flag sailors use to send messages between ships at sea
A flag used to send messages between ships
A flag you wave to send messages to people far away
How Visible
66
4.3
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
3.8
14
5.5
146
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'signal' (something that conveys a cue) with 'flag' (a piece of cloth): together they denote a flag used to send signals or messages. This straightforward noun–noun composition is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English modification patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it.
Etymology
Signal flag comes from sailors who used a bright piece of cloth, a flag, to give a signal to other ships by holding it up or waving it. So, that's why signal flag means 'a piece of fabric used to send messages' today.