Related Words
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Pennant, Thomas
(1726-1798) Naturalist and traveller, b. in Flintshire, and ed. at Oxf., was one of the most distin...
Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
A long narrow banner with St. George's cross in the head, and hoisted at the main. It is the badge of a ship-of-war. Signal pennants are 9 feet long, tapering from 2 feet at the mast to 1 foot. They denote the vessels of a fleet; there are ten pennants, which can be varied beyond any number of ships present. When the pennant is half mast, it denotes the death of the captain. When hauled down the ship is out of commission. Broad pennant denotes a commodore, and is a swallow-tailed flag, the tails tapering, and would meet, if the exterior lines were prolonged; those of a cornet could not.
See pendant.
(1726-1798) Naturalist and traveller, b. in Flintshire, and ed. at Oxf., was one of the most distin...
Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin