subs. (old).—1. A groat, or fourpenny piece. Also FLAGG, and FLAGGE. For synonyms, see JOEY.
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors (1814), p. 65. Roge. But a FLAGGE, a wyn, and a make. (But a groat, a penny, and a half-penny.)
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874], s.v.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12, s.v.
1725. JONATHAN WILD, Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 269. A tremendous black doll bought for a FLAG (fourpence) of a retired rag-merchant.
2. (common).—An apron; hence a badge of office or trade; cf., FLAG-FLASHER. Equivalents are BELLY-CHEAT and FIG-LEAF.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 232 (List of patterer’s words), s.v.
1872. Dundee Advertiser, 20 April, ‘Report of Meeting of Domestic Servants.’ It was contended that they were compelled to wear what was generally known as a FLAG.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves.
| Suppose you try a different tack, | |
| And on the square you flash your FLAG. |
3. (obsolete).—A jade.
1539. LYNDSAY, Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, Works [Ed. LAING, 1879], ii. 109. Ane fistand FLAG.
4. (common).—The menstrual cloth. Variants are bandage; clout; danger-signal; diaper; double clout (D’URFEY); gentleman’s pleasure garden padlock; periodicity rag; the red rag; sanitary towel; window-curtain.
THE FLAG (or DANGER-SIGNAL) IS UP = “The Captain’s at home” (GROSE), i.e., the menstrual flux is on.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.—To have domestic afflictions, or the D.A.’s; to have the FLOWERS (q.v.); to have one’s grandmother, or little friend, or auntie, with one; to have them (or it) on; to be in a state of ‘no thoroughfare’; to have the red rag on; to be road-making; to have the street up for repairs; to be at Number One, London; to have ‘the gate locked and the key lost.’
FRENCH SYNONYMS.—Avoir ses cardinales (literally, to have one’s reds); avoir les histoires; avoir les affaires (common); avoir ses anglais (in allusion to the scarlet of English soldiers); broyer des tomates (= tomato-crushing); avoir son marquis (COTGRAVE); avoir les fleurs rouges; avoir sa chemise tachée (COTGRAVE); voir Sophie; avoir les ordinaires.
ITALIAN SYNONYMS.—Marchese (FLORIO), marchesano (= menses. Michel says, Art. marque = a month, a woman. “Il ne saurait être douteux que ce nom ne soit venu à cette division de l’année, de l’infirmité périodique qu’ont les marques, ou femmes, lors que la Lune, pour tenir sa diette et vaquer à ses purifications menstruelles, fait marquer les logis feminins par son fourrier, lequel pour escusson n’a que son impression rouge”).
TO FLY THE FLAG, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To post a notice that ‘hands’ are wanted. See also FLY THE FLAG, post.
