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 or flag can be any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, iris pseudacorus or flag can be a slice of turf; a sod.
Why is the flag called an ensign?
In its widest sense, an ensign is just a flag or other standard. The European military rank of ensign, once responsible for bearing a unit's standard (whether national or regimental), derives from it (in the cavalry, the equivalent rank was cornet, named after a type of flag).
What flag can be flown above the ensign?
The church pennant and the Jewish worship pennant are the only two flags that ever fly above the national ensign. They are hoisted above the ensign, either at the flagstaff (in port) or the gaff (under way) during the conduct of religious services by a naval chaplain aboard ship.
What is an ensign in reference to the US flag?
The ensign of the United States is the flag of the United States when worn as an ensign (a type of maritime flag identifying nationality, usually flown from the stern of a ship or boat, or from an installation or facility of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard or the National ...
Is ensign a high rank?
ensign, junior officer, generally the lowest commissioned rank in military services where such a rank exists.
Is it illegal to fly a flag at night without a light?
Traditional guidelines call for displaying the flag in public only from sunrise to sunset. However, the flag may be displayed at all times if it's illuminated during darkness.
Do you salute an ensign?
Each person in the naval service, upon coming on board a ship of the Navy, shall salute the national ensign if it is flying.
Who can fly the US ensign flag?
United States Ensign The U.S. ensign is proper for all U.S. yachts, without reservation. This is "Old Glory," with 50 stars and 13 stripes. All boats, when at anchor, fly it from the stern staff, if so equipped, only while occupied. It is flown from the stern staff of powerboats underway on inland waters.
Is an ensign a flag?
The flag that indicates nationality on a ship is called an ensign. As with the national flags, there are three varieties: the civil ensign, flown by private owned vessels; state ensigns (also called government ensigns), flown by government ships; and war ensigns (also called naval ensigns), flown by naval vessels.
What is the blue part of the US flag called?
Blue. The name of the blue used on the American flag is called Old Glory Blue. Blue can signify peace, happiness, relaxation, and comfort.
What is the most respected military rank?
The highest military rank is O-10, or "five-star general." It is symbolized by five stars for each of the military services. Although it is currently a part of the military service rank system, no officer has been promoted to it since World War II, when the rank was created.
What does an ensign get paid?
A Ensign is a junior officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade O-1. A Ensign receives a monthly basic pay salary starting at $3,477 per month, with raises up to $4,376 per month once they have served for over 3 years.
Does an O-1 outrank an e 9?
Commissioned officers outrank enlisted members and warrant officers. Warrant officers outrank enlisted members. So a commissioned officer in the grade of O-1 would outrank an Army sergeant major in the grade of E-9. And a W-2 grade would outrank an E-9, but also would be outranked by an O-1.
Can another flag be flown above the flag?
No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right. When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size.
Is ensign higher than chief?
Ensign is the 16th rank in the United States Navy , ranking above Chief Warrant Officer 5 and directly below Lieutenant Junior Grade.
Who can fly the red duster?
British merchantmenThe Red Ensign (or "Red Duster" as it is occasionally known) is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and was later adopted specifically by British merchantmen to be flown as the civil ensign of the British merchant fleet.
Can a yacht fly the White Ensign?
Yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Trinity House vessels when escorting the British Monarch (King or Queen of the United Kingdom) are also permitted to wear the White Ensign.
What is the difference between an ensign and a 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 or flag can be any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, iris pseudacorus or flag can be a slice of turf; a sod.
What is an ensign?
Ensign is a see also of flag.
What is flag representation?
An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
What is a flag?
A flag or banner carried by military units. See standard, color, colour.
What is a flagstone slab?
A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
What does "mark with a flag" mean?
To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
What does "flag" mean in race?
The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
What does the ensign mean on a flag?
Ensign is applied chiefly to a flag that indicates nationality and specifically to one flown by ships at sea.
What is a flag?
Flag, the comprehensive term, is applied to a piece of cloth that typically is rectangular, is attached to a staff, mast, halyard, or line, and carries an arrangement of colors, an emblematic figure, or a motto.
What is the pennant flag?
Pennant even more often applies to a narrow flag, typically triangular, which is flown by ships, which is used in signaling and in decorating, or which is exhibited (as by a baseball club) as a sign of championship. Pennon may apply to a narrower flag or a small streamer suitable for attaching to a lance.
Why is the flag on a pole called the "standard"?
Standard especially suggests the former because the term originally designated and still often designates a flag or a sculptured figure raised on a pole so as to be a gathering point for all who belong under it.
What does the color of the flag mean?
Color (most frequently found in the plural colors ) may apply to a national flag, to a flag emblematic of affiliation or partisanship, or to a flag of most military units; the term is particularly likely to suggest military activity or display.
What is the purpose of a flag?
The purpose of a flag is primarily to serve as a sign or symbol of a nation, a branch of the service, an organization, or an office, but it may also serve as a signal (as in military or naval operations) or in giving information (as of a weather change or the approach of a train).
What is a banner in the military?
Banner basically applies to a flag (often hung downward from a crosspiece instead of flying from a staff) of an individual (as an emperor, king, lord, or military leader) which was formerly flown from windows or doors or carried aloft at the head of a procession (as of troops marching to war).
What is the ensign of a flag?
Ensign, a flag, especially the national flag. The term is most often applied to the flag flown at the stern by naval vessels in commission or by merchant vessels. British Blue Ensign.
What is the Navy's ensign?
The U.S. Navy ’s ensign is the same as the national flag, but many other navies have distinctive naval ensigns which are "worn" by their war vessels. In the Royal Navy the ensign has a red, white, or blue ground with the Union Jack in the upper corner next to the staff. Until 1864, ships of the Royal Navy were divided into three squadrons ...
What is a flag?
Flag, a piece of cloth, bunting, or similar material displaying the insignia of a sovereign state, a community, an organization, an armed force, an office, or an individual. A flag is usually, but not always, oblong and is attached by one edge to a staff or halyard.…. warship.
Who is entitled to fly the blue ensign?
Passenger liners or other merchant vessels manned by a prescribed percentage of officers and men of the Royal Naval reserve are entitled to fly the blue ensign. Certain other vessels, not of the Royal Navy but owned by the British government, also use the blue ensign. British Red Ensign.
What is a merchant ship?
merchant marine. Merchant marine, the commercial ships of a nation, whether privately or publicly owned. The term merchant marine also denotes the personnel that operate such ships, as distinct from the personnel of naval vessels. Merchant ships are used to transport people, raw materials, and manufactured goods.
What is an ensign in heraldry?
In heraldry, an ensign is the ornament or sign, such as the crown, coronet, or mitre, borne above the charge or arms.
Why do we use the ensign on a boat?
In nautical use, the ensign is flown on a ship or boat to indicate its organizational membership. While this includes its nationality, it may well indicate more information (e.g. civilian, naval, or police vessel) rather than being the national flag itself. This is particularly common for European and Commonwealth countries.
What is the naval ensign called?
Large versions of naval ensigns called battle ensigns are used when a warship goes into battle. The ensign differs from the jack, which is flown from a jackstaff at the bow of a vessel. In its widest sense, an ensign is just a flag or other standard.
What is the flag that is flown on a ship?
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be different from the civil ensign (merchant ships) or the yacht ensign (recreational boats).
What is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality?
This article is about the flag. For the rank, see Ensign (rank). For other uses, see Ensign (disambiguation). An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port.
Where are the ensigns on a ship?
Ensigns are usually at the stern flagstaff when in port , and may be shifted to a gaff (if available) or mast amidships when the ship is under way, becoming known as a steaming ensign . Vexillologists distinguish three varieties of a national flag when used as an ensign: A civil ensign (usage symbol ) is worn by merchant and pleasure vessels.
What is the civil ensign?
A civil ensign (usage symbol ) is worn by merchant and pleasure vessels. In some countries the yacht ensign, used on recreational boats or ships instead of merchant vessels, differs from the civil ensign. A state ensign or government ensign (usage symbol ) is worn by government vessels, such as coast guard ships.
Why did the Red Ensign become unofficial?
Suggested reasons for unofficial uses of the Red Ensign (1901 to 1953) Culturally: A combination of (i) Australia’s laissez-faire democracy and (ii) a considerable , but narrowing, gap between the leadership class (who consistently adhered to the official Blue Ensign) and the remainder of Australians (some of whom used the Red Ensign).
How to tell the difference between the Union Jack and the Red Ensign?
This means in black and white photographs of the flag, it is usually possible to tell which ensign the flag is: In the Blue Ensign, the shade of grey will be uniform between the background of the Union Jack and the rest of the flag, whereas in the Red Ensign, the background of the Union Jack will be a darker shade of grey than the rest of the flag. This is important as most photographs of the first half of the 20 th Century, during which the Red Ensign was used widely, are of course in black and white.
What is the difference between the Australian flag and the red flag?
In the first half of the 20 th Century, the Red Ensign had widespread use in Australia. The Red Ensign is the same as the Australian National Flag (which can be referred to as the Blue Ensign), except with a red instead of a blue background. See the comparison below:
What is the flag of Australia?
Used by various local governments (councils) and other institutions outside Federal and State governments. Used by many soldiers in World Wars 1 and 2. Regarded by many in the general public as the flag of Australia.
When did the Australian flag become the national flag of Australia?
Official use of the Blue and Red Ensigns. On the 3 rd Sep 1901, following Federation, the Australian National Flag (Blue Ensign) became the official national flag of Australia, and has remained so ever since. At the same time, the Red Ensign became the flag of Merchant Naval Shipping, and has remained so ever since.
Did all Australians have the same flag?
Hence, while all Australians shared essentially the same flag, differences in perception, as to which ensign was to be used, were able to go largely unchecked. The national flag was not flown to the same degree as it is today; so, outside of the leadership, there was less focus on getting it right.
