Gadsden flag

noun

An American political flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Beneath the rattlesnake is the motto "Dont Tread on Me"

Meanings

nounGadsden flag (plural Gadsden flags)

plural Gadsden flags

  1. historicalgovernmentAn American political flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Beneath the rattlesnake is the motto "Dont Tread on Me"

Origin

Named after politician Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Gadsden flag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadsden%20flag

MLA

“Gadsden flag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadsden%20flag. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gadsden flag,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gadsden%20flag.

Source: Gadsden flag on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.