Gadsden flag

Meaning

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" (in some later versions, due to standards for apostrophes becoming more strict since the 18th century, an apostrophe has been appended to don't).

Origin

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