WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign-the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom).

Detailed explanation-2: -Sometime around the year 1674, the British flag became formally known as the ‘Union Jack’ when mounted on a warship and the ship was not in harbour. Around the same time, the British flag was referred to as the ‘Union flag’ on land.

Detailed explanation-3: -The flag of Great Britain, commonly known as King’s Colours, the first Union Flag, the Union Jack, or the British flag, was used at sea from 1606 and more generally from 1707 to 1801. It was the first flag of Great Britain. It is the precursor to the Union Jack of 1801.

Detailed explanation-4: -The ‘Jack’ part comes from the name for a small maritime flag. Since before 1600, ‘jack’ has been used to describe a small flag flown from the mast of a ship – so, when a small version of the Union Jack started to be flown around 1627, it was often referred to as the jack, jack flag or King’s jack.

Detailed explanation-5: -Formally, the flag is known as the Union Flag, but for centuries it has been popularly known as the Union Jack. If “Union Jack” were merely a nickname, like Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner, and the Stars and Stripes are nicknames for the United States flag, its popular use should be understandable and acceptable.