Red Cross
Preserved but no longer current.
The badge adopted by all civilized nations (except those who use the Red Crescent, etc.), in accordance with the Geneva Conven- tion of 1864, as that of military ambulance and hospital services, hospital ships, etc.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Red Cross” mean?
The badge adopted by all civilized nations (except those who use the Red Crescent, etc.), in accordance with the Geneva Conven- tion of 1864, as that of military ambulance and hospital services, hospital ships, etc.
Is “Red Cross” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.