ENSIGN

The national flag carried by a ship. Men of war carry a red, a white, or a blue ensign, according to the colour of the flag of the admiral in command of the station. Ships do not display their ensigns at sea, except in meeting strangers, on which ships show their national ensign. In harbour the ensign is not shown before 8 a.m., nor after sunset. The ensign hoisted with the upper comer (or in British ships the union of the cro es of^ St. George and St. Andrew) downwards, is the signal of distre . The English ensign is a red, white, or blue flag, having the union in the upper corner next the mast. [s. 415]