Ensign

An ensign is a national flag when used at sea as a country's maritime flag. It serves as a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry. The military rank of ensign, a junior officer once responsible for bearing an infantry or artillery unit`s national colors (in the cavalry the equivalent rank was cornet) or a ship's ensign, derives from it.

Large versions of naval ensigns called battle ensigns are used when a warship goes into battle.

National ensigns

In nautical use, the ensign is flown on a ship or boat to indicate its nationality. Ensigns are usually at the stern flagstaff when in port, and may be shifted to a gaff (if available) 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. In some countries the yacht ensign, used on recreational boats or ships instead of merchant vessels, differs from the civil ensign.