Naut. [f. FLAG sb.4 + OFFICER.] An officer who carries a flag. a. An admiral, vice-admiral, or rear-admiral. b. In U.S. navy 1857–1862 the official title of an officer in actual command of a squadron (Cent. Dict.).
1665. Evelyn, Diary, 30 June. I went on board the Charles, to which, after a gun was shot off, came all the flag-officers to his Majesty, who there held a General Council, which determined that his Royal Highness should adventure himself no more this summer.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 341. The Stadtholder, in the capacity of high admiral of the republic, presided in the five chambers of admiralty. He formerly appointed the flag officers, but this privilege was lately disputed by the States General.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson, 119, note. Since the commencement of the present war, Sir Thomas Troubridge, who had previously attained to the rank of a flag-officer, has been apponted to a command in the East Indies.
1859. in Gen. Navy Reg. U.S.A. (1888), 931. The commission of senior flag officer of the United States Navy.
1873. Colomb, Lett., April, in Fifteen Years Naval Retirement, 5. Fifty Flag Officers is too few.
