[See FLAG.] A plant of the genus Gladiolus or Sword-lily, N.O. Iridaceæ, species of which are cultivated as garden flowers.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xxxviii. 196. Corne flagge or Gladioll.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. lxxvi. 105. French corne flagge hath small stiffe leaves.
1629. Parkinson, Paradisi in Sole, xxi. 189. Next unto the Flagges or Flowerdeluces, come the Gladioli or Corne Flagges.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 71/1. The Indian Corn-flag hath the flowers growing on both sides the stalk, and are of a sad red.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Ser. I. xi. 263. You shall still see … the tasselled grass, or the corn-flags.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 27. Corn Flag.—The wild European species, G. communis, is perfectly hardy in England.
