Nautical Term: Dip
Definition of Dip
The term ‘dip’ refers to the position of a flag when lowered partway in salute. This method of salute between vessels is comparable to the gesture of planes dipping their wings as a sign of respect or acknowledgement.
For instance, imagine two sailing vessels, the Seafarer and the Voyager, encountering each other at sea. In order to pay mutual respect and acknowledge each other’s presence, both captains would give the order to their crews to hoist their respective national flags, and then to perform a ‘dip,’ or lowering the flag partway, in salute to the other vessel. Once both flags have been dipped in salute, the flags are then hoisted back to their full height, symbolizing the resumption of normal relations between the two vessels and their crews.
Explore other nautical terms:
