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nail colours to the mast
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Naval term from wooden galleon days. During battle the ship's ensign would be flown high on the main mast. The ensign was either the White ensign of the Royal Navy's White Fleet, the Blue Ensign of the Blue Fleet or the Red Ensign of the Red fleet. These being the ship's colours. A ship conceeded victory by lowering her ensign. Usually in heavy battle one or all of the ship's masts may be cut down by various types of cannon fire and thus the ensign would no longer be flying. The order would then be given to 'nail the ensign [colours] to the mast' to show that they had not given up the fight.
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