sick-flag
Definition
Noun: - A yellow flag hoisted on a ship or in a designated area to signal the presence of infectious disease or quarantine. This flag serves as a warning to others to avoid contact or to indicate that the vessel or location is under medical restriction.
Usage Examples
- (The yellow flag indicated a possible disease outbreak on board.)
- (The flag warned of contagion and enforced quarantine.)
Advanced Usage
- "to raise the sick-flag": to formally signal a disease outbreak or health emergency.
- The captain raised the sick-flag after several sailors developed a fever. (He officially indicated a medical crisis.)
- "to lower the sick-flag": to remove the flag once the health threat has passed.
- After the quarantine period ended without further illness, the crew lowered the sick-flag. (The warning was lifted.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sick flag (noun phrase, alternative spelling): same meaning as sick-flag.
- The harbor master spotted the sick flag and ordered the ship to anchor offshore. (A yellow flag indicating disease.)
- Quarantine flag (noun phrase): a flag used to signal quarantine, often synonymous with sick-flag.
- The quarantine flag was flown to prevent unauthorized boarding. (A flag indicating isolation due to illness.)
Synonyms
- Yellow flag: a flag of yellow color used to indicate disease or quarantine.
- Pestilence flag: a historical term for a flag signaling plague or epidemic.
- Health warning flag: a flag that alerts others to health risks.
Related Idioms
- "Fly the sick-flag" (idiom): to openly indicate a problem or dangerous condition, often used metaphorically.
- The company flew the sick-flag when it announced major financial losses. (It publicly signaled a crisis.)
- "Under the sick-flag" (idiom): in a state of quarantine or isolation due to illness.
- The entire crew lived under the sick-flag for two weeks. (They were confined during a health scare.)