quarantine flag

nounNautical.

a yellow flag, designating the letter Q in the International Code of Signals: flown by itself to signify that a ship has no disease on board and requests a pratique, or flown with another flag to signify that there is disease on board ship.

Origin of quarantine flag

First recorded in 1870–75

Also called yellow flag.

Words Nearby quarantine flag

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use quarantine flag in a sentence

Sick-room and sick-bed are also in common use, and sick-flag is used in place of the American quarantine-flag.
The American Language | Henry L. Mencken
In that of the midshipmen he may probably find a youth with the quarantine-flag up; that is, in the sick-list.
The Lieutenant and Commander | Basil Hall
The yellow quarantine flag, hoisted to prevent communication; whence the term of the yellow flag, and yellow admirals.
The Sailor's Word-Book | William Henry Smyth
At her mizzen-peak flew the American ensign, and at the fore-truck the ominous quarantine flag.
The Tale of Timber Town | Alfred Grace
And nobody can see her—Now you hoist the quarantine flag, and I shall pull in the net.
Plays--First Series | August Strindberg

British Dictionary definitions for quarantine flag

quarantine flag

noun

nautical the yellow signal flag for the letter Q, flown alone from a vessel to indicate that there is no disease aboard and to request pratique or, with a second signal flag, to indicate that there is disease aboard: Also called: yellow flag, yellow jack

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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