ensign

Meanings

Noun

• A badge of office, rank, or power.
• The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade.
• A flag or banner carried by military units; a standard or color/colour.
• The principal flag or banner flown by a ship (usually at the stern) to indicate nationality.
• Any prominent flag or banner.
• A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign.

Verb

• To designate as by an ensign.
• To distinguish by a mark or ornament.
• To distinguish by an ornament, especially by a crown.

Related

Similar words

• coronet
• second lieutenant (OF-1), first NATO commissioned officer grade above OF-0 trainee officer

Origin

• From Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne. insignia.