User Contributed Dictionary
Noun
ensigns- Plural of ensign
Extensive Definition
An ensign is a distinguishing flag of a ship or a military unit;
or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of
office. The word has also given rise to the military rank of
"ensign", a rank of junior officer once responsible for bearing
the ensign of his unit.
The word is derived from the French
enseigne from the Latin plural insignia
and is more particularly used for a military or naval standard or
banner. An armorial ensign applies specifically to heraldic symbols
of an army.
Maritime ensigns
In nautical use, an ensign in the form of a flag
is usually flown at the stern of a ship or boat to
indicate its nationality. Ensigns may also be flown from the
gaff of
a ship, and may be shifted to a yardarm when the ship is
underway, where it is known as a steaming ensign. Vexillologists
distinguish three varieties of a national
flag when used as an ensign:
- A civil ensign (usage symbol *British ensigns: Blue Ensign, Red Ensign, White Ensign, commons:Flags based on British ensigns
- Civil ensign
- Civil air ensign
- Green Ensign
- Insignia
- Maritime flags and Gallery of maritime flags
- Pearson Ensign or Ensign Spar New Ensign Classic, a One-Design racing keelboat
ensigns in Modern Greek (1453-): Σημαία
πλοίου
ensigns in Spanish: Pabellón nacional
ensigns in Japanese: 軍艦旗
ensigns in Dutch: Vaandel
ensigns in Polish: Bandera
ensigns in Swedish:
Örlogsflagga