Meaning

noun a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade

noun an emblem flown as a symbol of nationality

noun colors flown by a ship to show its nationality

originFrom Middle English ensigne, from Old French enseigne, from Latin īnsignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished. Doublet of insignia.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0