Dipping

This article is about flag display techniques. For the practice of dipping tobacco, see Dipping tobacco. For dipping sheep, see Sheep dip.

To dip a flag that is being carried means to lower it by turning it forward from an upright position to 45° or horizontal. This is done as a sign of respect or deference.

To dip the flag on a merchant vessel passing a naval vessel involves lowering the jack-staff flag (the country flag) to the half-mast position and back to the truck as the vessels pass abeam of each other.The half-mast position in this case being one flag width from the truck as in the case of half mast.

Some jurisdictions have laws that discourage or prohibit the dipping of the national flag; these include the United States (with its non-binding flag code), India, Philippines and South Africa.

External links

• Canadian Heritage: Dipping the flag