Union Jack
[f. union n.1 + jack n.3]
Originally and properly, a small British union flag flown as the jack of a ship; in later and more general use extended to any size or adaptation of the union flag (even when not used as a jack), and regarded as the national ensign. See Union flag a and union n.1 10 a.
Written either with capitals or small initials.
| 1674 Lond. Gaz. No. 924/1 To Charge..His Subjects.., That from henceforth they do not presume to wear His Majesties Jack (commonly called, The Union Jack) in any of their Ships or Vessels, without particular Warrant. 1694, 1702 [see jack n.3]. 1801 Union Magazine Jan. 52 The Royal Union standard was hoisted on the Tower;..the Union Jack on the Parade. 1822 Admiralty Order in Lond. Gaz. No. 17871. 1893/1 We..authorize all His Majesty's subjects to hoist the Union Jack at the top-mast-head.., or at the fore-top-mast-head.., as a signal for a pilot. 1883 I. L. Bishop Golden Chersonese 222 Everything was ‘ship-shape’,..a union jack over the desk, from which the liturgy was read, and a tiger-skin [etc.]. |
b. A figure or representation of this. Also attrib.
| 1848 Albert Smith Chr. Tadpole xxiv. 220 Quite unexpectedly they all produced union-jack pocket-handkerchiefs, at the same moment. 1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. xix, Harry used to write his name all over his—see—and draw union-jacks on it. 1886 Pall Mall G. 3 July 4/1 In Sunderland the Liberals have all taken to wear Union Jacks in their buttonholes. |
Hence (with reference to the use of the union jack as a national flag) Union ˈJackery, Union ˈJackist, ˈJackite. nonce-wds.
| 1886 Pall Mall G. 3 July 4/1 At Nottingham,..the Tory party is locally known as the Union Jackists. 1896 Spectator 7 March 342 The national outbursts of ‘Union-Jackery’ in the courts and music-halls. 1901 Daily Chron. 2 Dec. 10/2 Men who no doubt call themselves patriotic Union-Jackites and Big Englanders. |