blue peter

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. a blue flag with a white square in the center, designating the letter P in the International Code of Signals, flown by a vessel in port to indicate its imminent departure.

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blue peter British  

noun

1. a signal flag of blue with a white square at the centre, displayed by a vessel about to leave port

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Etymology

Origin of blue peter

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blue peter

A blue peter is a blue flag with a white square in the center, and it is flown when a ship is ready to sail.

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg

"There's something up besides the blue peter, just as sure as you're a foot high, Whistler," Al Torrance declared eagerly.

From Navy Boys Behind the Big Guns Sinking the German U-Boats by R. Emmett (Robert Emmett) Owen

Outside the bar, her two anchors down, the blue peter at her fore, and the English Union Jack floating at her gaff, rode the brig “Halcyon.”

From The Ruined Cities of Zululand by Hugh Mulleneux Walmsley

The white pennon of the Union Steamship Company with its red Saint Andrew’s cross fluttered at one tapering masthead; at the other the blue peter.

From Renshaw Fanning's Quest A Tale of the High Veldt by Bertram Mitford

Ay, by Jupiter, there goes the very blue peter I helped to make with my own hands, and it was agreed to set it, as the deacon's signal.

From The Sea Lions The Lost Sealers by James Fenimore Cooper