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Dictionary of Vexillology: E (Ensign - Envecked)

Last modified: 2014-11-08 by rob raeside
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ENSIGN
1) A flag used at sea to denote nationality - or the national flag for use at sea - and whose current usage falls into one of the several categories listed separately below. The ensign is generally displayed on a staff at the stern of a vessel, or from the peak of the gaff of a sailing vessel if so rigged or two-thirds up the leech of the mainsail if not, and in the case of a naval ship, from either an ensign staff or from the rigging, with this latter usually depending on operational requirements and covered under peak (see also ‘galley ensign’, ‘leech’, ‘peak’ and ‘privateer ensign’). see supplemental note
2) The term may also be applied to the distinctive flags of certain or all the armed services of a particular country (which may, in addition, also act as flags of national identification) such as the British Air Force Ensign or South African Police Service Ensign.
3) The rank or distinguishing flag of a military or government service formerly used as an ensign (under definition 1) and still so called for historical reasons – for example the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs ensigns.
4) A largely (if not wholly) obsolete alternate name for a military colour (see also ‘ancient 2)’ and ‘colour 2)’).
5) An obsolete name for the lowest commissioned rank in the British Army, being that rank responsible for carrying the regimental colour (see also ‘ancient 3)’). Also, the lowest commissioned rank in the United States Navy and some others.
6) In heraldry the correct, although little used, term for the armorial bearings of a kingdom, of an office or of a community - insignia (see also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘ensign-banner’ and ‘insignia’).

ensign from an ensign staff ensign at the peak ensign from the leech
From an Ensign Staff; At the Peak; From the Leech

Civil Ensign
A flag flown by civilian owned vessels and craft to denote nationality, sometimes the relevant national flag, or a variant thereof, or occasionally a completely different design – a merchant ensign or merchant flag (see also ‘civil flag’, ‘civil jack’ under ‘jack’ and ‘red ensign 1)’.

Civil Ensign of Mexico 1897 - 1968 Civil Ensign of Malta Civil Ensign of Singapore Civil Ensign of Colombia
From left: Civil Ensign of Mexico 1897 - 1968 (fotw); Civil Ensign of Malta (fotw); Civil Ensign of Singapore (fotw); Civil Ensign of Colombia (fotw)

Customs ensign
1) See ‘ensign 3)’ and ‘customs flag’ (also ‘government ensign’ below).
2) See ‘Service Ensign’.

US Customs Ensign  Brunei Customs Ensign
Custom Ensign of the US (fotw); Customs Ensign of Brunei (fotw)

Government (or State) Ensign
A flag flown to denote nationality by those government vessels that are not warships, and sometimes defaced by badges to denote various departments – but see ‘archivexillum’, ‘service ensign’ and ‘state ensign 2)’ (also ‘blue ensign’ and ‘government jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘service pennant’).

Government Ensign of Germany 1893–1918 Government Ensign of Singapore Royal Maritime Auxiliary, UK
From left: Government Ensign of Germany 1893–1918 (fotw); Government Ensign of Singapore (fotw); Royal Maritime Auxiliary, UK (Graham Bartram)

Please note however, that the defaced Blue Ensigns of British Dependent Territories act as both an official flag on land, and as a Government Ensign when flown by a Government owned vessel at sea.

Leisure Ensign
See ‘yacht ensign’ under ‘ensign’.

Royal Norwegian Yacht Club
Ensign of the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club (fotw)

Naval Ensign
A flag flown by the naval vessels of a particular country to denote nationality - sometimes the relevant state or national flag, or a variant thereof, or occasionally a completely different design (see also ‘masthead pennant 1)’, ‘naval jack’ under ‘jack’, ‘suit of flags’ and ‘white ensign’).

Naval Ensign of Nigeria Naval Ensign of The RSA Naval Ensign of Bulgaria Naval Ensign of Italy
From left: Naval Ensign of Nigeria (fotw); Naval Ensign of The RSA (fotw); Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (fotw); Naval Ensign of Italy (fotw)

Reserve Ensign
A flag, different from the normal civil ensign, which is flown to denote nationality by merchant vessels commanded by an officer of that country’s naval reserve, and usually requiring a special Warrant (see also ‘blue ensign 1)’, ‘civil ensign’ above and ‘warrant’).

Reserve Ensign of India Reserve Ensign of The Netherlands Reserve Ensign of Germany 1935 – 1945
From left: Reserve Ensign of India (fotw); Reserve Ensign of The Netherlands (fotw); Reserve Ensign of Germany 1935 – 1945 (fotw)

Service Ensign
A flag flown to denote nationality by vessels engaged in providing a particular service - for example, customs, mail, post, pilotage or lighthouses etc, - but see the note below and ‘government ensign’ (also ‘customs flag’ and ‘postal flag’).

Service ensign example Service ensign example Service ensign example
Ensign of Trinity House, UK (fotw); Ensign of the Eastern Canadian Customs Service (fotw); Ensign for the Commissioners for Northern Lights, UK (fotw)

Please note that a service ensign can also be a government ensign when the service involved is a government responsibility, for example that of the Eastern Canadian Customs illustrated above.

War Ensign
See ‘naval ensign’ above (and also ‘war flag’).

War ensign example War ensign example
War/Naval Ensign of Germany 1903 – 1919 (fotw); War/Naval Ensign of Fiji (fotw)

Yacht (or Yacht Club) Ensign
A flag, different from the normal civil ensign, which is flown by leisure craft to denote nationality, usually requiring a special Warrant and often (but by no means invariably) defaced by an appropriate club emblem – a yacht club or leisure ensign (see also ‘blue ensign 1)’ with its following note, and ‘civil ensign’ above).

Yacht Ensign of Belgium Yacht Ensign of Spain Yacht Ensign of Japan Yacht Ensign of Finland Yacht Ensign of Royal Burnham Yacht Club
From left: Yacht Ensign of Belgium (fotw); Yacht Ensign of Spain (fotw); Yacht Ensign of Japan (fotw); Yacht Ensign of Finland (fotw); Yacht Ensign of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, UK (fotw)

Please note that in UK usage the owners of civil/leisure vessels flying a plain blue or defaced ensign are legally obliged to have the warrant/club membership papers applicable to that ensign available on board, and must produce it when requested to do so by the appropriate authorities.

ENSIGN-BANNER
The term for a flag with a field and/or border (possibly also a fringe) in the livery colours of a coat of arms, and charged with the full set of armorial bearings – but see ‘armorial flag 2)’ (also ‘armorial bearings’, ‘armorial flag’, ‘charged’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘ensign 5)’, ‘insignia’ and ‘livery colours’).

[Spanish state flag] [Spanish arms] [Braga Portugal flag] [Braga Portugal arms] [Braga Portugal ceremonial flag]
State Flag and Arms of Spain 1945 - 1977 (fotw), Flag, Arms and Ceremonial Flag of Braga, Portugal (fotw and official website)

Notes
a) The provenance of this term is uncertain and its use of the description “banner” (as defined herein) inaccurate. However, a possible derivation from insignia-banner (as opposed to armorial banner) cannot be ignored.
b) A full set of armorial bearings (most notably in Continental civic heraldry) need not contain all the traditional elements (such as supporters and motto), and to avoid any potential confusion the new term “armorial flag” (both generically and specifically) is recommended for use in description.

ENSIGN (or NAVAL ENSIGN) OF HONOUR (OR HONOR)
In largely (but by no means exclusively) Russian naval usage, the term for a defaced ensign awarded to vessels that have particularly distinguished themselves, and have received a decoration - an honour ensign (see also ‘defaced’ and ‘ensign 1)’).

ensign of honor [ensign of honor] [ensign of honor] [ensign of honor] [ensign of honor]
From left: Ensign of Honour 1819-1917; Current Ensign of Honour, Frontier Guard Ensign of Honour, Russian Federation (CS & fotw), Ensign of Honour, Bulgaria 1955 – 1991 (fotw); Ensign of Honour, Yugoslavia 1949 – 1991 (fotw)

ENSIGN STAFF
The short staff at the stern of a ship upon which the ensign is hoisted – a quarterdeck staff (see also ‘ensign 1)’, ‘jack staff’ and 'staff 1)').

Ensign staff
(Wikipedia)

ENSIGN, THE
An alternative term, now largely obsolete, for the naval ensign - see 'naval ensign' under 'ensign' (also ‘merchant flag’).

Ensign of Spain Ensign of Italy
The Ensign of Spain 1785–1931 (fotw); The Ensign of Italy 1861 – 1946 (fotw)

ENSIGNED
The heraldic term used when a charge is placed above or at the top of another. For example, a shield with a crown placed above is said to be ensigned with the crown – topped but see the note below and ‘surmounted, by 2)’ (also ‘charge 1)’, ‘crown’, ‘crest 1)’, ‘helm’ and ‘shield 1)’).

Lesser Arms of Sweden state flag - Serbia lesser arms of Serbia 1659 flag of Rijeka, Croatia 1659 arms of Rijeka, Croatia
The Lesser Arms of Sweden (fotw); State Flag and Lesser Arms of Serbia (fotw); Historical Flag and 1659 Arms of Rijeka, Croatia (FAME)

Please note that the correct heraldic term for a charge that is placed in front of rather than at the top of another is ‘surmounted by’.

ENTIRE
1) A heraldic term that may be used when a coat of arms is shown in its entirety but which is impaled, tierced, or displayed quarterly with another that is dimidiated (see also ‘coat of arms 2)’, ‘dimidiated’ and ‘impale’).
2) See ‘throughout’.

Gsteig, Switzerland Krαsnι Pole, Poland Krαsnι Pole, Poland Beringen, Switzerland
Flag of Šumperk, Czech Republic (fotw); Arms and Flag of Krαsnι Pole, Poland (fotw); Flag of Beringen, Switzerland (fotw)

ENTRELACΙ
See ‘interlaced’.

Interlaced flag
1606 Pattern Union Flag, UK

ENTY
See ‘point-in-point’.

[North Rhine – Westphalia, Germany] [North Rhine – Westphalia, Germany]
Flag and Arms of North Rhine – Westphalia, Germany (fotw)

ENVECKED
See ‘invected’.

[Lazne Belohrad]
Flag of Lazne Belohrad Czech Republic (fotw)

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