Quote:
Originally Posted by Wicked Lady Can't be Scottish. A scot would never use the Union Jack as his avatar. I'm guessing Welsh or full-blown English. |
Union Jack or Union Flag? (from
http://www.jdawiseman.com/papers/uni...nion-jack.html)
Both and neither. A jack is a sea flag, a small flag, generally rather square in its proportions, flown from a flagstaff rigged on the bowsprit or stem of the vessel. The earliest known reference to a ‘jack’ of such a type occurs in 1633, the first reference to the Union (rather than the ‘Britain’ or ‘British’ flag) dating from 1625 — the Union Flag and the naval jack are much the same age. The jack was initially simply a particular instance of the Union Flag, but as the distinctive flag of warships it quickly became an exceptionally well-known instance. Technically, all Union Jacks are Union Flags, but not vice versa. It is a fine point and one that was much argued over, but it is beyond question that the habit of treating the two terms as interchangeable developed early, and it would not be difficult to multiply instances of individuals who undoubtedly did understand the distinction nevertheless following common usage and using the term Union Jack when Union Flag is clearly meant.
I was of the understanding that the Union Jack is strictly for naval usage, whilst the Union Flag is for landlubbers.