ENSIGN • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Ensign

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/ˈɛnsən/ Listen

noun

ensign n.

1.

A flag; a banner; a standard; esp., the national flag, or a banner indicating nationality, carried by a ship or a body of soldiers; as distinguished from flags indicating divisions of the army, rank of naval officers, or private signals, and the like. "Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still."

2.

A signal displayed like a standard, to give notice. "He will lift an ensign to the nations from far."

3.

Sign; badge of office, rank, or power; symbol. "The ensigns of our power about we bear."

4.

(a)

Formerly, a commissioned officer of the army who carried the ensign or flag of a company or regiment.

(b)

A commissioned officer of the lowest grade in the navy, corresponding to the grade of second lieutenant in the army. Note: In the British army the rank of ensign was abolished in 1871. In the United States army the rank is not recognized; the regimental flags being carried by a sergeant called the color sergeant.

Ensign bearer, one who carries a flag; an ensign.

verb

Ensign v. t.

1.

To designate as by an ensign. (Obs.) "Henry but joined the roses that ensigned Particular families."

2.

To distinguish by a mark or ornament; esp. (Her.), by a crown; thus, any charge which has a crown immediately above or upon it, is said to be ensigned.

See images of 'Ensign'

Etymology of 'Ensign'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Ensign" Quotes from Famous Books

... going to be married once to a brave young officer, Ensign Angus Macquirk, of the Whistlebinkie Fencibles; but he fell at Quatre Bras, by the side of the gallant Snuffmull, his commander. Deeply, deeply did Miss ...

— The Christmas Books • William Makepeace Thackeray

... Massachusetts, and either butchered or carried off as prisoners most of the inhabitants. Shortly afterwards we find him a participant in warfare of a less ignoble type. In 1706 he went to France and became an ensign in a regiment of grenadiers. Those were the days when Marlborough was hammering and destroying the armies of Louis XIV. La Verendrye, took part in the last of the series of great battles, the bloody conflict at Malplaquet in 1709. He received a bullet wound through the body, ...

— The Conquest of New France - A Chronicle of the Colonial Wars, Volume 10 In The - Chronicles Of America Series • George M. Wrong

... bully dream, old man. I dreamed that I saw the ensign of Austria-Hungary flying from the flag-staff of this shanty; and by Jove, I'll take the hint! We owe it to the distinguished Ambassador who now approaches to fly his colors over the front door. We ought to have a trumpeter to herald his arrival—but ...

— The Port of Missing Men • Meredith Nicholson

... are empty." He rang a bell. "Orderly, tell the adjutant and Doctor O'Flaherty that I wish to see them. Mr. Cleary," he went on, as soon as the former entered, "I have been requested by the Horse Guards to nominate an ensign, so as to fill up our ranks before starting, and I have determined to give the appointment to ...

— With Moore At Corunna • G. A. Henty

... taken part in the great French war and in the great changes resulting from it—changes which have in time given way to vaster alterations, and been eclipsed by them. He began his military life as a boy-ensign in one of the regiments forming part of the expedition which, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, drove the French out of Egypt in 1801; and on the shores of the Mediterranean, where his career began, it was for the most part continued and finished. His genius led ...

— Occasional Papers - Selected from The Guardian, The Times, and The Saturday Review, - 1846-1890 • R.W. Church

Copyright © 2025 Free-Translator.com