burgee

[ bur-jee, bur-jee ]

noun

1. a triangular flag or one having a shallow, angular indentation in the fly, forming two tails, used as an identification flag, especially by yachts.

burgee

/ ˈbɜːdʒiː /

noun

1. nautical a triangular or swallow-tailed flag flown from the mast of a merchant ship for identification and from the mast of a yacht to indicate its owner's membership of a particular yacht club

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgee¹

1840–50; perhaps shortening of *burgee's flag, by reanalysis of *burgess flag, burgess translating French bourgeois in sense “owner” (of a ship)

Word History and Origins

Origin of burgee¹

C18: perhaps from French (Jersey dialect) bourgeais shipowner, from Old French borgeis ; see bourgeois ¹, burgess

Related Words

• emblem
• headline
• pennant
• streamer