blue peter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a blue signal flag with a white central square, flown to show that a merchant vessel is ready to sail

   The blue peter rose above the liner shortly before the passengers boarded.

From blue, describing the flag's field, plus Peter, probably the personal name; the precise reason for Peter is uncertain. The term is recorded from the early nineteenth century. The flag later became the International Code of Signals flag P, retaining its sailing-related meaning.

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