This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[Scand. to hang loosely.] That which flies or flutters loosely in the wind, but more especially a banner bearing a device or devices, and used to indicate nationality or to give information. Flag of truce is a white flag exhibited to an enemy to invite a conference. Yellow flag is the quarantine flag, and at the fore of a ship indicates that infectious disease is on board.
 
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