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Definition of Ensign
1. Noun. A person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade.
Generic synonyms: Commissioned Naval Officer
2. Noun. An emblem flown as a symbol of nationality.
3. Noun. Colors flown by a ship to show its nationality.
Definition of Ensign
1. n. 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.
2. v. t. To designate as by an ensign.
Definition of Ensign
1. Noun. A badge of office, rank, or power ¹
2. Noun. The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade. ¹
3. Noun. A flag or banner carried by military units. See standard, color, colour. ¹
4. Noun. (nautical) The principal flag or banner flown by a ship to indicate nationality. ¹
5. Noun. A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th Centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign. ¹
6. Noun. A prominent flag or banner. ¹
7. Verb. (obsolete) To designate as by an ensign. ¹
8. Verb. To distinguish by a mark or ornament ¹
9. Verb. (heraldry) To distinguish by an ornament, especially by a crown. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Ensign
1. a navy officer [n -S]
Medical Definition of Ensign
1. 1. A flag; a banner; a standard; especially, 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. Formerly, a commissioned officer of the army who carried the ensign or flag of a company or regiment. A commissioned officer of the lowest grade in the navy, corresponding to the grade of second lieutenant in the army. In the British army the rank of ensign was abolished in 1871. In the United States army the rank is not recognised; the regimental flags being carried by a sergeant called the colour sergeant. Ensign bearer, one who carries a flag; an ensign. Origin: L. Enseigne, L. Insignia, pl. Of insigne a distinctive mark, badge, flag; in + signum mark, sign. See Sign, and cf. Insignia, 3d Ancient. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Ensign
Literary usage of Ensign
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register by Henry Fritz-Gilbert Waters (1896)
"8th, 1711, by a Frenchman and three Indians; their pursuit by ensign William
Hilton and liis Company " consisting of six of the Standing forces there in the ..."
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature ...Encyclopedias and dictionaries (1907)
"Netherlands: Royal Flag, ensign Zanzibar and several Arab Colonies, and the Merchant
... Turkey: ensign and Merchant Flag for Turkey, Egypt, and Tripoli. ..."
3. The Works of George Fox by George Fox (1831)
""And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign
of the people ; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be ..."
4. The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut [1636-1776] by Connecticut, Connecticut General Assembly, Connecticut Council, James Hammond Trumbull, Connecticut Council of Safety, Charles Jeremy Hoadly (1885)
"This Assembly do establish Mr. John Abbot to be ensign of the 2d or north company or
... Wheat to be ensign of the second company or ..."
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