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ensign

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ensign

 

  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ensign 
  n  1:  a  person  who  holds  a  commissioned  rank  in  the  US  Navy  or 
  Coast  Guard;  below  lieutenant  junior  grade 
  2:  an  emblem  flown  as  a  symbol  of  nationality  [syn:  {flag},  {national 
  flag}] 
  3:  a  flag  flown  by  ship  to  show  its  nationality 
 
  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  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}.)




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