false-flag operation

[Garson O'Toole]

 Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> OED has no entry for "false-flag" anything. Â GB has nothing on "false-flag
> operation" before the 1980s. Â  Not that the idea hadn't been around.

OED does have  "fight, etc., under false colours" and "to show false
colours" where colours refers to a flag

colour | color, n.1
6. b. In phrases, as to come out in one's true colours , to show one's
colours , etc. To this sense prob. belong the earlier examples of to
fight, etc., under false colours , which at a later date became
associated with the next sense.

c1540    Destr. Troy 11496   He set hom a cas, What fortune might
falle vndur fals colour.


false, adj., adv., and n.
14. a. Navy and Mil. Counterfeited for the purpose of deception;
feigned, pretended; as in false attack, false lights, false ports,
false signal. Also in phrases (often fig.), †to show false colours ,
to hang out false colours (see colour n.1 Phrases 3b); under false
colour(s (see colour n.1 Phrases 3a).

c1540    Destr. Troy 11496   He set hom a cas, What fortune might
falle vndur fals colour.

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org