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Ensign
ENSIGNENSIGN. An ensign is the lowest commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Ensign comes from the Latin word insignia, lending the ensign the duty of carrying emblems or banners. In British service, until 1871, an ensign carried the colors as the lowest commissioned officer of infantry. In the United States ensigns existed in the colonial militia, in the Revolution infantry, and in the regular army until 1815, as a rank lower than first, second, or third lieutenant. In the navy the rank of ensign superseded that of midshipman in 1862. BIBLIOGRAPHYMoskos, Charles C. The American Enlisted Man: The Rank and File in Today's Military. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1970. DonRussell/h. s. See alsoCoast Guard, U.S. ; Navy, United States . |
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"Ensign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Ensign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401801390.html "Ensign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401801390.html |
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ensign
ensign.
1. The national flag as worn by the ships of a nation. Some countries use two ensigns, one for naval ships and one for merchant vessels. However, since the division of the British fleet by squadronal colours was abolished in 1864, British ships have always flown three different types of ensign: the red ensign, the white ensign, and the blue ensign. See also flag etiquette. 2. A naval rank in the US, and some other navies, equivalent to that of midshipman or sub-lieutenant. |
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"ensign." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ensign." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ensign.html "ensign." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-ensign.html |
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ensign
en·sign • n. 1. / ˈensən; ˈenˌsīn/ a flag or standard, esp. a military or naval one indicating nationality. 2. / ˈensən/ a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, ranking above chief warrant officer and below lieutenant. ∎ hist. the lowest rank of commissioned infantry officer in the British army. ∎ hist. a standard-bearer. |
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"ensign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ensign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ensign.html "ensign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ensign.html |
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ensign
ensign n.
1. ˈensən a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, ranking above chief warrant officer and below lieutenant. 2. ˈensən; ˈenˌsīn a flag or standard, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality. |
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Cite this article
"ensign." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ensign." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ensign.html "ensign." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-ensign.html |
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ensign
ensign †battle-cry, watchword; sign, badge; banner XIV (naval flag XVIII); ensign-bearer (hence, various military and naval officers) XVI. — (O)F. enseigne :- L. insignia; see INSIGNIA.
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T. F. HOAD. "ensign." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ensign." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ensign.html T. F. HOAD. "ensign." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ensign.html |
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ensign
ensign
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Cite this article
"ensign." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ensign." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ensign.html "ensign." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ensign.html |
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