form, etc.) when off duty,—Cf., FLAG, sense 2.
FLAG-ABOUT, subs. (old).—A strumpet.
[From FLAG, a pavingstone].
For synonyms, see
BARRACK-HACK and TART.
FLAG-FLYING.—See FLAG.
FLAG OF DISTRESS, subs, phr.
(common).—1. A card announcing
'lodgings,' or 'board and
lodgings.' Hence, any overt sign
of poverty.
2. (common).—A flying shirt-*tail; in America, A LETTER IN THE POST-OFFICE (q.v.).
FLAGGER, subs, (common).—A
street-walker. For synonyms,
see BARRACK-HACK and TART.
1865. Daily Paper, 'Police Report.' She wasn't a low sort at all—she wasn't a FLAGGER, as we call it. So I replies, 'I am well, thankee; and am happy to say I feel as such.'
FLAGS, subs. (common).—Linen
drying and flying in the wind.
For synonyms, see SNOW.
FLAG UNFURLED, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A
man of the world.
FLAG-WAGGING, subs. (military).—Flag-signal
drill.
FLAM, subs. (colloquial).—Nonsense
(for synonyms, see GAMMON);
humbug; flattery; or, a lie: as
A REGULAR FLAM (for synonyms,
see WHOPPER). Cf. FLIM-FLAM.
1508. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, [Cf., FLIM-FLAM.]
1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Humourous Lieutenant, iv., 1. With some new FLAM or other, nothing to the matter.
1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt. II., ch. iii., p. 29. A FLAM more senseless than the roguery of old aruspicey and aug'ry.
1742-4. ROGER NORTH, Lives of the Norths, ch. i., p. 368. They must have known his Lordship better and not have ventured such FLAMS at him.
1760. FOOTE, Minor, Act II. Had the FLAM been fact, your behaviour was natural enough.
1762. FOOTE, Liar, bk. II., ch. ii. Can't you discern that this FLAM of Sir James Elliot's is a mere fetch to favour his retreat?
1830. Sir E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 298 (ed. 1854). Harry . . . . told you as ow it was all a FLAM about the child in the bundle!
1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 325. No trick nor FLAM, but your real Schiedam.
1849. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ch. ii. And their pockets full they crams by their patriotic FLAMS, And then swear 'tis for the good of the nation.
1850. D. JERROLD, The Catspaw, Act II. Though the story of that scoundrel Coolcard, Augustus Coolcard—and I was never before deceived—never—is a FLAM—all a FLAM.
1870. London Figaro, 22 Sept. Is not your boasted power a FLAM?
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon's Good Night. You flymy titters fond of FLAM.
2. (old).—A single stroke on the drum.—[GROSE, 1785.]
Adj. (old).—False.
1692. SPRAT, Relation of Young's Contrivance (Harl. Misc. vi. 224). To amuse him the more in his search, she addeth a FLAM story that she had got his hand by corrupting one of the letter-carriers in London.
Verb (colloquial).—1. To take in; to flatter; to lie; to foist or fob off. FLAMMING = lying.
