I 
FLA 
but at an extreme heat will remain tixed in 
all ordinary situations. From the analogy 
of a variety of facts, it does not seem pro- 
bable that any substances are absolutely 
fixed. 
FLACOURTIA, in botany, so called in 
memory of Stephen de Flacourt, a genus of 
the Dioecia Polyandria class and order. 
Natural order of Tiliaceae, Jussieu. Essen- 
tial character : male, calyx five-parted ; co- 
rolla none ; stamens very numerous : female, 
calyx many-leaved; corolla none; germ 
superior ; styles five to nine ; berry many- 
celled. There is but one species. 
FLAG, a general name for colours, stan- 
dards, antients, banners, ensigns, <&e. which 
are frecjuently confounded with each other. 
The fashion of pointed, or triangular flags, 
as now used, Rod. Toletan assures, came 
from the Mahometan Arabs, or Saracens, 
upon their seizing of Spain, before which 
time all the engines of war were stretched, or 
extended on cross pieces of wood, like the 
banners of a church. The pirates of Algiers, 
and throughout the coasts of Barbary, bear 
an hexagonal flag. 
Flag is more particularly used at sea ; 
for the colours, antients, standards, &c. 
borne on the tops of the masts of vessels, to 
notify the person who commands the ship, 
of what nation it is, and whether it be 
equipped for war or trade. The admiral in 
ciiief carries his flag on the main-top ; the 
vice-admiral on the fore-top ; and the rear- 
admiral on the mizen-top. When a coun- 
cil of war is to be held at sea, if it be on 
board the admiral, they hang a flag in the 
main shrouds ; if in the vice-admiral, in the 
fore shrouds ; and if in the rear-admiral, in 
the mizen shrouds. 
Besides the national flag, merchant ships 
frequently bear lesser flags on the mizen 
mast, with the arms of the city where the 
master ordinarily resides ; and on the fore- 
mast, with the arms of the place where the 
person who freights them lives. 
Flag, to lower or strike the, is to pull it 
down upon the cap, or to take it in, out of 
the respect or submission due from all ships 
or fleets inferior to those any way justly 
their superiors. To lower or strike the flag, 
in an engagement, is a sign of yielding. 
The way of leading a ship in triumph is 
to tie the flags to the shrouds, or the gallery, 
in the hind part of the ship, and let them 
hang down towards the water, and to tow 
the vessels by the stern. Livy relates, that 
FLA 
this was tlie way the Romans used those of 
Carthage. 
Flag, to heave out the, is to put out or 
put abroad the flag. 
Flag, to hang out the white, is to ask 
quarter ; or it shews when a vessel is arrived 
on a coast, that it has no hostile intention, 
but comes to trade, or the like. The red 
flag is a sign of defiance and battle. 
Flag officers, those who command the 
several squadrons of a fleet, such are the 
admirals, vice-admirals, and rear-admirals. 
The flag-officers in our pay are the admiral, 
vice-admiral, and rear-admiral, of the white, 
red, and blue. 
Flag ship, a ship commanded by a gene- 
ral or flag-officer, who has a right to carry 
a flag,, in contradistinction to the secondary 
vessels under the command thereof. 
FLAGELLARIA, in botany, a genus of 
the Hexandria Trigynia class and order. 
Natural order of Tripetaloidem. Asparagi, 
Jussieu. Essential character: calyx six- 
parted; corolla none; berry one-seeded. 
There are two species. 
FLAGEOLET, or Flajeolet, a little 
flute, used chiefly by shepherds and country 
people. It is made of box, or other hard 
wood, and sometimes of ivory, and has six 
holes besides that at the bottom, the mouth- 
piece, and that behind the neck. See 
Flute. 
FLAIL, an instrument for thrashing corn. 
A flail consists of the following parts : l.The 
hand-staff, or piece held in the thresher’s 
hand. 2. The swiple, or that part which 
strikes out the corn. 3. The caplins, or 
strong double leathers, made fast to the 
tops of the hand-staff and swiple. 4. The 
middle-band, being the leather thong, or 
fish skin, that ties the caplins together. 
FLAIR, in the sea language. When a 
ship is housed in near the water, so that the 
work above hangs over too much, it is said 
to flair over. This makes the ship more 
roomy aloft, for the men to use their arms. 
FLAMBEAU, a kind of large taper, 
made of hempen wicks, by pouring melted 
wax on their top, and letting it run down 
to the bottom. This done, they lay them 
to dry; after which they roll them on a table, 
and join four of them together by means of 
a red-hot iron; and then pour on more 
wax, till the flambeau is brought to the size 
required. Flambeaus are of different lengths, 
and made either of white or yellow wax. 
They serve to give light in tire streets at 
night, or on occasion of illuminations. 
