ensign
[en-sahyn; Military en-suh n]
- a flag or banner, as a military or naval standard used to indicate nationality.
- a badge of office or authority, as heraldic arms.
- a sign, token, or emblem: the dove, an ensign of peace.
- U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. the lowest commissioned officer, ranking next below a lieutenant, junior grade, and equal to a second lieutenant in the Army.
- Archaic. standard-bearer(def 1).
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Origin of ensign
Synonyms
See more synonyms for ensign on Thesaurus.com1. pennant, streamer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ensign
Contemporary Examples
Ensign resigned from the Senate the day before he was going to testify under oath about the scandal.
Ensign and Hampton's relationship may not have been so healthy, but they had the communication thing down.
One $20,000 loan from Ensign to Hampton was forgiven after the affair was revealed.
Ensign's wife Darlene had found out about the phones, so they had to stop using them.
The final payment ended up being a $96,000 gift from Ensign's parents to the Hamptons.
Historical Examples
"It is the ensign of the Knights of Calatrava," answered Felton.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
I, with nineteen men and my ensign, took a different route in quest of them.
Chronicles of Border WarfareAlexander Scott Withers
A schooner riding to an anchor in the bay was flying her ensign for help.
The ManxmanHall Caine
Before that hurricane of passion the ensign recoiled, despite himself.
The Tavern KnightRafael Sabatini
Ensign Bradley burst out, pulling at the sleeve of his superior.
Sir Henry Morgan, BuccaneerCyrus Townsend Brady
ensign
- (also ˈɛnsən) a flag flown by a ship, branch of the armed forces, etc, to indicate nationality, allegiance, etcSee also Red Ensign, White Ensign
- any flag, standard, or banner
- a standard-bearer
- a symbol, token, or emblem; sign
- (in the US Navy) a commissioned officer of the lowest rank
- (in the British infantry) a colours bearer
- (formerly in the British infantry) a commissioned officer of the lowest rank
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ensign
n.
late 14c., via Scottish, from Old French enseigne (12c.) "mark, symbol, signal; flag, standard, pennant," from Latin insignia (plural); see insignia. Sense of "banner, flag" is c.1400; that of soldier who carries one is first recorded 1510s. U.S. Navy sense of "commissioned officer of the lowest rank" is from 1862. French navy had rank of enseigne de vaisseau since at least early 18c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper