ensign

[ en-sahyn; Military en-suhn ]
/ ˈɛn saɪn; Military ˈɛn sən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ensign ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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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salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
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Origin of ensign

1325–75; Middle English ensigne < Old French enseigne < Latin insignia; see insignia

OTHER WORDS FROM ensign

en·sign·ship, en·sign·cy, noun

Words nearby ensign

enshrine, enshroud, ensiform, ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, ensign, ensign staff, ensilage, ensile, ensky, enslave
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ensign

insignia, emblem, symbol, standard, colors, streamer, pennant, banner, banderole, gonfalon

Example sentences from the Web for ensign

British Dictionary definitions for ensign

ensign
/ (ˈɛnsaɪn) /

noun

Derived forms of ensign

ensignship or ensigncy, noun

Word Origin for ensign

C14: from Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012