Red Flag
Preserved but no longer current.
The emblem of Bolshevism, Com- munism, and revolution generally. English Communists have a "battle hymn" with this title. The red flag was used during the French Revolution as the symbol of insurrection and terrorism, and in the Roman Empire it sig- nified war and a call to arms.
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 Flag” mean?
The emblem of Bolshevism, Com- munism, and revolution generally. English Communists have a "battle hymn" with this title. The red flag was used during the French Revolution as the symbol of insurrection and terrorism, and in the Roman Empire it sig- nified war and a call to arms.
Is “Red Flag” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.