ensign : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: ensign	by the DICT Development Group
5 results for ensign
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ensign n a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade an emblem flown as a symbol of nationality Synonym(s): national flag, ensign colors flown by a ship to show its nationality
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 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}.)