What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

What is the difference between ensign and flag?

ensign | flag |

In nautical terms the difference between ensign and flag

is that ensign is the principal flag or banner flown by a ship to indicate nationality while flag is a flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.

As nouns the difference between ensign and flag

is that ensign is a badge of office, rank, or power while flag is a piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.

As verbs the difference between ensign and flag

is that ensign is to designate as by an ensign while flag is to furnish or deck out with flags.

As a proper noun Ensign

is {{surname}.

ensign

English

(wikipedia ensign)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A badge of office, rank, or power.
  • * (Edmund Waller) (1606-1687)
  • The ensigns of our power about we bear.
  • The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.}}
  • A flag or banner carried by military units. See standard, color, colour.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • Hang up your ensigns , let your drums be still.
  • (label) The principal flag or banner flown by a ship to indicate nationality.
  • A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th Centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign.
  • A prominent flag or banner.
  • * 1667 ?, (John Milton), (Paradise Lost)
  • Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced.

    Synonyms

    (junior commissioned officer) * coronet (cavalry equivalent of the infantry ensign) * second lieutenant (OF-1), first NATO commissioned officer grade above OF-0 trainee officer

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To designate as by an ensign.
  • *
  • To distinguish by a mark or ornament
  • (heraldry) To distinguish by an ornament, especially by a crown.
  • Any charge which has a crown immediately above or upon it, is said to be ensigned .

    flag

    English

    (commons)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) flag, . More at (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
  • An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
  • (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
  • (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
  • The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
  • (computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
  • (computer science) In a command line interface, a command parameter requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
  • (British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
  • Synonyms
    * Boolean * switch
    Derived terms
    * antiflag * false flag * flagkini * freak flag * raise a flag * show the flag * white flag

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To furnish or deck out with flags.
  • To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside. }}
  • To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
  • Please flag down a taxi for me.
  • To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.
  • to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
  • To note, mark or point out for attention.
  • I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
    Users of the Internet forum can flag others' posts as inappropriate.
  • (computing) To signal (an event).
  • The compiler flagged three errors.
  • (computing) To set a program variable to true .
  • Flag the debug option before running the program.

    See also

    * banner * colour * ensign * jack * pennant * standard * vexillology

    Etymology 2

    Probably from (etyl).

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To weaken, become feeble.
  • His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • The pleasures of the town begin to flag .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away. }}
  • To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
  • * T. Moore
  • as loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast
  • To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.
  • to flag the wings
    (Prior)
  • To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
  • * Echard
  • Nothing so flags the spirits.

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; compare Danish .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus .
  • * before 1899 , Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill :
  • And laden barges float
    By banks of myosote;
    And scented flag and golden flower-de-lys
    Delay the loitering boat.
    Derived terms
    * sweet flag

    Etymology 4

    Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slice of turf; a sod.
  • A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
  • (geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
  • Verb

    (flagg)
  • To lay down flagstones.
  • * Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.
  • Etymology 5

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
  • A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
  • The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
  • (music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value
  • References

    1000 English basic words ----