Ensign

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  ensign \en"sign\ ([e^]n"s[i^]n also [e^]n"s[imac]n, except for
     4a), 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A signal displayed like a standard, to give notice.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He will lift an ensign to the nations from far.
                                                    --Is. v. 26.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Sign; badge of office, rank, or power; symbol.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The ensigns of our power about we bear. --Waller.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Ensign bearer}, one who carries a flag; an ensign.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ensign \En"sign\, v. t.
     1. To designate as by an ensign. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Henry but joined the roses that ensigned
              Particular families.                  --B. Jonson.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ensign
       n 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

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  108 Moby Thesaurus words for "ensign":
     Dannebrog, Jolly Roger, Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner,
     Stars and Stripes, Union Flag, Union Jack, admiral, and blue,
     armory, badge, badge of office, badges, banderole, banner,
     banneret, baton, black flag, blazonry, blue ensign, brassard,
     bunting, burgee, button, cap and gown, captain, chain,
     chain of office, chief petty officer, class ring, coachwhip,
     cockade, collar, color, colors, commander, commodore, cross,
     decoration, dress, eagle, emblems, ensigns, fasces, figurehead,
     flag, fleet admiral, fleur-de-lis, gonfalon, gonfanon, guidon,
     hammer and sickle, heraldry, house flag, insignia, jack, lapel pin,
     lieutenant, lieutenant commander, lieutenant junior grade, livery,
     long pennant, mace, mantle, markings, medal, merchant flag,
     mortarboard, national flag, naval officer, navarch, old school tie,
     oriflamme, pennant, pennon, pennoncel, petty officer, pin,
     rear admiral, red, red ensign, regalia, ring, rose, royal standard,
     school ring, shamrock, sigillography, signal flag, skipper,
     skull and crossbones, sphragistics, staff, standard, streamer,
     swallowtail, swastika, tartan, thistle, tie, tricolor, uniform,
     verge, vexillum, vice admiral, wand, warrant officer, white
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  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}.)
     

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  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

From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:

  Ensign, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
     Population (2000):    203
     Housing Units (2000): 77
     Land area (2000):     0.279189 sq. miles (0.723096 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    0.279189 sq. miles (0.723096 sq. km)
     FIPS code:            21400
     Located within:       Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
     Location:             37.652608 N, 100.232657 W
     ZIP Codes (1990):     67841
     Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
     Headwords:
      Ensign, KS
      Ensign