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sions of the army, rank of naval officers, or private signals, and the like. Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still. Shak.

The rank or office of an ensign.

The state or rank of an ensign.

An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the funeral shield commonly called hatchment. Cussans.

An ensign; a standard bearer. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.

An ensign or flag. [Obs.] More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient. Shak.

Ensigns armorial; armorial bearings. Spensplw.

The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.

The ensign of a pirate.

One used as the mark or ensign of some rank, office, or dignity, as that of a cardinal.

in ink, etc., or actually represented in some material; the symbol of Christ's death; the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity, of a Christian people, and of Christendom. The custom of making the sign of the cross with the hand or finger, as a means of conferring blessing or preserving from evil, is very old. Schaf…

A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak. Behind the curtain, in concealment; in secret. -- Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. Jerrold. A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffer…

To paint or adorn with armorial figures; to blazon, or emblazon. [Archaic] The imperial ensign, . . . streaming to the wind, With gems and golden luster rich emblazed. Milton.

of March 3, 1899. It consisted of assistant and passed assistant engineers, ranking with ensigns and lieutenants, chief engineers, ranking from lieutenant to captain, and engineer in chief, ranking with commodore and having charge of the Bureau of Steam Engineering.

Having an escutcheon; furnished with a coat of arms or ensign. Young.

elings or will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent. Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion. Milton. By one man's firm obediency fully tried. Milton.

mation; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.

To tread under foot; to trample. King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot. Knoless. Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle, In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle. Spenser.

The ensign or standard in use by certain princes or states, such as the mediæval republics of Italy, and in more recent times by the pope.

f a herald; the art, practice, or science of recording genealogies, and blazoning arms or ensigns armorial; also, of marshaling cavalcades, processions, and public ceremonies.