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Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt
From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: The British flag
Message-ID: <855@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Apr-84 14:19:20 EST
Article-I.D.: dciem.855
Posted: Sun Apr 15 14:19:20 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Apr-84 19:00:38 EST
References: <860@ihuxq.UUCP>
Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada
Lines: 16

=================
Does anyone out there know how the name of the British flag, the 'Union
Jack' came about? I know about the design (amalgamation of the crosses of
St. George, Scotland and Wales), but what about the name?
=================

Without reference to books, my memory of what we were taught is that the
"Jack" refers to the jackstaff on a ship, where the "Jack" flag was flown.
"Union" refers to the union of England and Scotland, whose crosses were
combined (with Welsh and Irish?) to make the full flag.

Check this before taking it as gospel.
-- 

Martin Taylor
{allegra,linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd,ubc-vision}!utzoo!dciem!mmt