America Is At Half-Mast

by on May 26, 2022 · 4 comments

in Culture

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

unwashedWalmartTHonG May 26, 2022 at 6:35 pm

Correct term would be: half staff

Masts are on ships.

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Frank Gormlie May 27, 2022 at 7:07 am

Wikipedia: Half-mast (British, Canadian and Australian English) or half-staff (American English) refers to a flag flying below the summit of a ship mast, a pole on land, or a pole on a building. In many countries this is seen as a symbol of respect, mourning, distress, or, in some cases, a salute. Most English-speaking countries use the term half-mast in all instances. In the United States, this refers officially only to flags flown on ships, with half-staff used on land.

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unWashEdwalmarTHOng May 27, 2022 at 9:01 pm

And not to feed a stuffed puppy–
1708 London Gazette: “The Ships Flags, which were only half-staff high.”
and . . .
1627 Captain Smith Seaman’s Grammar: “Hoise your Sailes half mast high.”

OED 1971

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Frank Gormlie May 28, 2022 at 12:15 pm

Shimmer me timbers! Ahoy mates!

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