star-spangled 的詞源

「佈滿或點綴著星星」，這個詞源於1590年代，由名詞 star（星星）和動詞的過去分詞 spangle（點綴）組成。Star-Spangled Banner 這個詞組指「美國國旗」，最早出現在1814年，出自弗朗西斯·斯科特·基的詩中（該詩於9月20日刊登在《巴爾的摩愛國者》），詩中描繪了1814年9月13日至14日夜間美國馬里蘭州巴爾的摩的麥克亨利堡遭到轟炸的情景。

The Stars and Stripes developed from the striped flag of Boston's Sons of Liberty, and the blue and white star-spangled standards of George Washington's army. It involved the advice of a Quaker seamstress, the prompting of an American Indian, the timely intervention by Pennsylvania politicians, the inspiration of Francis Hopkinson, and a resolution of the Continental Congress.

These Americans were part of a process of mixed enterprise that combined public effort and private initiative in a way that was typical of the new republic. An American Indian was not reluctant to instruct the rulers of the Colonies on what should be done, and they were quick to respond to his suggestion. A Philadelphia seamstress did not hesitate to criticize the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and he was open to her advice. The Continental Congress accepted these contributions in the spirit of the open society that America was becoming. [David Hackett Fischer, "Liberty and Freedom"]

星條旗的起源可以追溯到波士頓自由之子的條紋旗，以及喬治·華盛頓軍隊的藍白星點旗幟。這一過程中，得到了一位貴格會女裁縫的建議，一位美洲印第安人的推動，賓夕法尼亞州政治家的及時介入，弗朗西斯·霍普金森的靈感，以及大陸會議的決議。

這些美國人參與了一個融合了公共努力和私人創新的過程，這在新共和國中是非常典型的。一位美洲印第安人毫不猶豫地向殖民地的統治者建議應該怎麼做，而他們也迅速響應了他的建議。一位費城的女裁縫不惜批評大陸軍的總司令，而他也樂於接受她的建議。大陸會議以美國日益開放的社會精神來接受這些貢獻。[大衛·哈克特·費舍爾，《自由與自由》]