Where does “ship of the line ensign” come from?
ship of the line ensign (English) comes from English ensign, from Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia.
ship of the line ensign (English): Junior officer rank used in the navies of some Romance-speaking countries, usually equal in rank to the British rank of sub-lieutenant or the American rank of lieutenant junior grade
Definitions
- Junior officer rank used in the navies of some Romance-speaking countries, usually equal in rank to the British rank of sub-lieutenant or the American rank of lieutenant junior grade
Ancestry of “ship of the line ensign”, step by step
ship of the line ensign traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ensign
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ensign | A badge of office, rank, or power; The lowest... |
| 2 | Middle English | ensigne | — |
| 3 | Old French | enseigne | — |
| 4 | Latin | īnsignia | — |
via English ship of the line
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ship of the line | A large square-rigged warship large enough to have a place in the line of battle, with up to 140 guns on at least two decks. A capital ship from the age of sail, superior to a frigate; usually, a seventy-four, or three-decker |