ensigncy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical: the rank, office, or commission of an ensign, especially a junior officer in an army regiment

   Wickham secured an ensigncy in a regiment stationed in the north.

Formed from ensign + -cy. Ensign came through Old French enseigne ('mark, banner, standard') from Latin insignia ('distinguishing marks'). Because a junior officer traditionally carried the unit's colors, ensign became the name of a rank; ensigncy named that rank, office, or commission.

Topics