red ensign
noun1
The flag flown by a British merchant ship.
- Both Worthing and Brighton sail under the red ensign and are excellent testimonials to their British builders, William Denny & Brothers, from whose yard so many notable cross-channel and shallow-draught vessels have come.1939 June, G. W. Tripp, “The Modern Railway Steamer”, in Railway Magazine, page 392:
2
Canada, Historical Such a flag bearing the coat of arms of Canada, formerly used as a semi-official national flag of Canada.