n. | 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. |
| 2. | A signal displayed like a standard, to give notice. |
| 3. | Sign; badge of office, rank, or power; symbol. |
| 4. | Formerly, a commissioned officer of the army who carried the ensign or flag of a company or regiment. |
v. t. | 1. | To designate as by an ensign. |
| 2. | (Her.) 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. |