Obs. [Perh. a. OF. flac (:—L. flaccus) of same meaning. For the change of c into g cf. flagon, flaget, repr. earlier flacon, flaket. See next vb.]
Hanging down, drooping, pendulous; esp. of hair, and a horse’s or dog’s tail. Also in comb., as flag-eared, -thighed, -winged.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Encapotado de orejas, flag eared, flaccidus.
1613. Heywood, Brazen Age, II. ii.
| The fierce Thessalian hounds | |
| With their flagge eares, ready to sweep the dew | |
| From the moist earth. |
1637. A. Warwick, Spare Min., 112. He [the heron] strave to get above her [the hawk] labouring even by bemuting his enemies feathers to make her flagge-winged, and so escape.
1668. Lond. Gaz., No. 273/4. About 17 years of Age, bright flag hair.
1683. Bp. of Ferns, in Wicked Contriv. S. Blackhead, in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 521. His hair, if his own, is black, thin, pretty long, and hangs flag without any curls.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1866/8. A Sorrel Gelding … with a bald Face … and a long flag Tail.
1765. Treat. Dom. Pigeons, 91. The feathers on their [Dutch Cropper’s] thighs hang loose, whereby they are said to be flag-thigh’d.
