red cross

. 1. The crusaders or the cause they represented. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A hospital or ambulance service established as a result of, though not provided for by, the Geneva convention of 1864; any of the national societies for alleviating the sufferings of the sick and wounded war, also giving aid and relief during great calamities; also, a member or worker of such a society; -- so called from the badge of neutrality; the Geneva cross. In islamic countries, a similarly motivated affiliated organization is called the Red Crescent. The American Red Cross was founded in 1881, largely due to the initiative of Clara Barton. The American Red Cross maintains a web page on the internet, where additional information can be found. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]