Etymology of the English word ensign
the English word
ensignderived from the Old French word
enseignederived from the Latin word
insigniaderived from the Latin word
insignis (conspicuous, manifest, eminent)
using the Latin prefix
in- (suffix for no)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ne (not)
derived from the Late Latin word
signum (battle standard; indication; seal)
derived from the Latin word
secare (to cut; cut, sever; decide)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*sek-derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*sekĘ·-Date
The earliest known usage of ensign in English dates from the 14th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
