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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

en·sign

Audio Help [en-sahyn; Mil. en-suh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a flag or banner, as a military or naval standard used to indicate nationality.

2.	a badge of office or authority, as heraldic arms.

3.	a sign, token, or emblem: the dove, an ensign of peace.

4.	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.

5.	Archaic. standard-bearer (def. 1).

[Origin: 1325–75; ME ensigne < OF enseigne < L insignia; see insignia

]

—Related forms

en·sign·ship, en·sign·cy, noun

—Synonyms 1. pennant, streamer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Ensign

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

en·sign Audio Help (ěn'sən, -sīn') Pronunciation Key
n.

A national flag displayed on ships and aircraft, often with the special insignia of a branch or unit of the armed forces.
A standard or banner, as of a military unit.
Archaic A standard-bearer.
(ěn'sən) Abbr. ENS
1. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard that is below lieutenant junior grade.
2. One who holds this rank.
3. A badge of office or power; an emblem: "I want the seals of power and place,/The ensigns of command,/Charged by the people's unbought grace,/To rule my native land" (John Quincy Adams).
4. A sign; a token.
1. A badge of office or power; an emblem: "I want the seals of power and place,/The ensigns of command,/Charged by the people's unbought grace,/To rule my native land" (John Quincy Adams).
2. A sign; a token.

[Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, insignia; see insignia.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ensign

1375, via Scottish, from O.Fr. enseigne, from L. insignia (pl.) (see insignia). Sense of "banner, flag" is c.1400; that of soldier who carries one is first recorded 1513. U.S. Navy sense of "commissioned officer of the lowest rank" is from 1886.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

ensign
noun
1.	a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
2.	an emblem flown as a symbol of nationality [syn: national flag]
3.	colors flown by a ship to show its nationality

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Ensign, KS (city, FIPS 21400) Location: 37.65358 N, 100.23224 W
Population (1990): 192 (80 housing units)
Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 67841

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ensign

En"sign\, n. [L. enseigne, L. insignia, pl. of insigne a distinctive mark, badge, flag; in + signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Insignia, 3d Ancient.]

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. --Shak.

2. A signal displayed like a standard, to give notice.

He will lift an ensign to the nations from far. --Is. v. 26.

3. Sign; badge of office, rank, or power; symbol.

The ensigns of our power about we bear. --Waller.

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. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ensign

En"sign\, v. t. 1. To designate as by an ensign. [Obs.]

Henry but joined the roses that ensigned Particular families. --B. Jonson.

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.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Ensign

(1.) Heb. 'oth, a military standard, especially of a single tribe (Num. 2:2). Each separate tribe had its own "sign" or "ensign." (2.) Heb. nes, a lofty signal, as a column or high pole (Num. 21:8, 9); a standard or signal or flag placed on high mountains to point out to the people a place of rendezvous on the irruption of an enemy (Isa. 5:26; 11:12; 18:3; 62:10; Jer. 4:6, 21; Ps. 60:4). This was an occasional signal, and not a military standard. Elevation and conspicuity are implied in the word. (3.) The Hebrew word _degel_ denotes the standard given to each of the four divisions of the host of the Israelites at the Exodus (Num. 1:52; 2:2; 10:14). In Cant. 2:4 it is rendered "banner." We have no definite information as to the nature of these military standards. (See BANNER.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ensign

ensign: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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