answering pennant

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. one of the flags of the International Code of Signals, a pennant of three red and two white vertical stripes, flown at the dip while a message is being interpreted and close up when it is understood.

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Example Sentences

There goes her answering pennant; and there she hauls to the wind on the starboard tack.

From The Rover's Secret A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba by Symons, W. Christian

Mac shoved up the answering pennant, roused the other drowsy signaller, and elicited the information that the New Zealand ships would anchor 1 1/2 miles S.S.E. of Ras Marshag at 17.50.

From The Tale of a Trooper by Mackenzie, Clutha N. (Clutha Nantes)

The books had arrived, and while one lowered and hoisted again the code signal, which was also the answering pennant, the others pored over the shipping-list.

From "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea by Robertson, Morgan

The final string of flags then disappeared, and the Vestale’s answering pennant directly afterwards showed just above her topgallant yard, indicating that she had completed her signal and awaited our reply.

From The Congo Rovers A Story of the Slave Squadron by Schonberg, J.

"She has her answering pennant flying," he exclaimed, letting fall his glass to accost me, and he called to the second mate to haul down our signal.

From A Marriage at Sea by Russell, W. Clark (William Clark)