[f. UNION sb.1 + JACK sb.3] Originally and properly, a small British union flag flown as the jack of a ship; in later and more general use extended to any size or adaptation of the union flag (even when not used as a jack), and regarded as the national ensign. See UNION FLAG a and UNION sb.1 10 a.
Written either with capitals or small initials.
1674. Lond. Gaz., No. 924/1. To Charge … His Subjects…, That from henceforth they do not presume to wear His Majesties Jack (commonly called, The Union Jack) in any of their Ships or Vessels, without particular Warrant.
1694, 1702. [see JACK sb.3].
1801. Union Magazine, Jan., 52. The Royal Union standard was hoisted on the Tower;… the Union Jack on the Parade.
1822. Admiralty Order, in Lond. Gaz., No. 17871. 1893/1. We … authorize all His Majesty’s subjects to hoist the Union Jack at the top-mast-head…, or at the fore-top-mast-head…, as a signal for a pilot.
1883. Mrs. Bishop, Golden Chersonese, 222. Everything was ‘ship-shape,’… a union jack over the desk, from which the liturgy was read, and a tiger-skin [etc.].
b. A figure or representation of this. Also attrib.
1848. Albert Smith, Chr. Tadpole, xxiv. 220. Quite unexpectedly they all produced union-jack pocket-handkerchiefs, at the same moment.
1856. Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, I. xix. Harry used to write his name all over his—see—and draw union-jacks on it.
1886. Pall Mall G., 3 July, 4/1. In Sunderland the Liberals have all taken to wear Union Jacks in their buttonholes.
Hence (with reference to the use of the union jack a national flag) Union Jackery, Union Jackist, Jackite. nonce-words.
1886. Pall Mall G., 3 July, 4/1. At Nottingham,… the Tory party is locally known as the Union Jackists.
1896. Spectator, 7 March, 342. The national outbursts of ‘Union-Jackery’ in the courts and music-halls.
1901. Daily Chron., 2 Dec., 10/2. Men who no doubt call themselves patriotic Union Jackites and Big Englanders.
