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Flag vs Ahoy - What's the difference?

flag | ahoy |

In nautical terms the difference between flag and ahoy

is that flag is a flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship while ahoy is used to hail a ship, a boat or a person, or to attract attention.

As verbs the difference between flag and ahoy

is that flag is to furnish or deck out with flags while ahoy is to hail with a cry of "ahoy".

As a noun flag

is a piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.

As an interjection ahoy is

used to hail a ship, a boat or a person, or to attract attention.

flag

English

(commons)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) flag, . More at (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
  • An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
  • (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
  • (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
  • The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
  • (computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
  • (computer science) In a command line interface, a command parameter requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
  • (British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
  • Synonyms
    * Boolean * switch
    Derived terms
    * antiflag * false flag * flagkini * freak flag * raise a flag * show the flag * white flag

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To furnish or deck out with flags.
  • To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside. }}
  • To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
  • Please flag down a taxi for me.
  • To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.
  • to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
  • To note, mark or point out for attention.
  • I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
    Users of the Internet forum can flag others' posts as inappropriate.
  • (computing) To signal (an event).
  • The compiler flagged three errors.
  • (computing) To set a program variable to true .
  • Flag the debug option before running the program.

    See also

    * banner * colour * ensign * jack * pennant * standard * vexillology

    Etymology 2

    Probably from (etyl).

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To weaken, become feeble.
  • His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • The pleasures of the town begin to flag .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away. }}
  • To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
  • * T. Moore
  • as loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast
  • To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.
  • to flag the wings
    (Prior)
  • To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
  • * Echard
  • Nothing so flags the spirits.

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; compare Danish .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus .
  • * before 1899 , Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill :
  • And laden barges float
    By banks of myosote;
    And scented flag and golden flower-de-lys
    Delay the loitering boat.
    Derived terms
    * sweet flag

    Etymology 4

    Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slice of turf; a sod.
  • A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
  • (geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
  • Verb

    (flagg)
  • To lay down flagstones.
  • * Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.
  • Etymology 5

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
  • A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
  • The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
  • (music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value
  • References

    1000 English basic words ----

    ahoy

    English

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (nautical) Used to hail a ship, a boat or a person, or to attract attention.
  • * 1751: While he was thus occupied, a voice, still more uncouth than the former, bawled aloud, ‘Ho! the house, a-hoy!’'', (The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle), (Tobias Smollett).
  • *, chapter=7
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy! ” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.}}

    Usage notes

    * Traditionally, when used from a ship to hail an approaching boat, the standard responses are: ** "aye aye", if a commissioned officer is in the boat; ** "no no", if no officer is in the boat; ** name of ship , if the captain of another ship is in the boat; ** "flag" if an admiral is in the boat.

    Derived terms

    * land ahoy * ship ahoy * ahoj (Czech, Slovak greeting)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To hail with a cry of "ahoy".
  • Anagrams

    *

    References

    See also

    * yoohoo