The Collaborative International Dictionary
Star-spangled \Star"-span`gled\ (st[aum]r"-sp[a^][ng]`g'ld), a. Spangled or studded with stars.
Star-spangled banner, the popular name for the national
ensign of the United States; also the name of a poem, the
words of which were composed by Francis Scott Key, which
was adopted as the national anthem of the United States.
--F. S. Key.
Wikipedia
The Star-Spangled Banner, or the Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Seeing the flag during the battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem " Defence of Fort McHenry", which, retitled with the flag's name of the closing lines of the first stanza and set to the tune " To Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith, later became the national anthem of the United States.
Star-Spangled Banner can mean:
- The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States
- Flag of the United States, the national flag of the United States in general
- Star Spangled Banner Flag, the actual flag that was flown over Fort McHenry on September 14, 1814 that inspired the national anthem of the United States
Usage examples of "star-spangled banner".
I wanted no flag but the Star-Spangled Banner, no song besides 'Hail Columbia.
From his neck to his knees, in ample folds, a robe swept down that was a very star-spangled banner of curved and sinuous bars of black and white.
Already at the tables, a group that had arrived still earlier was singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in order that they might use the salt and pepper and ketchup there.