tmh900
Well-Known Member
How d'ya pronounce it? Enzine? Ensin? Ensun?
A virtual pint to the winner
A virtual pint to the winner
Ensign...
- Thread starter tmh900
- Start date
Searush
Well-Known Member
Ensun is an RN rank innit?
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
I don't think it has ever been an RN rank. It used to be a rank in some Army regiments, and is also found in the USN.
John
tmh900
Well-Known Member
Dunno about an RN rank, but when I were a lad in't sea cadets, the old sea dogs used to call the flag an ensun.
PurpleKate
Well-Known Member
We just call it the "Red Duster", where does that originate?
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
We use a red duster. It's my uncles old underpants, and is wonderful for cleaning windows
Cornishman
Well-Known Member
How d'ya pronounce it? Enzine? Ensin? Ensun?
A virtual pint to the winner
Listen to Stephen Fry on BBC R4 on Thursday mornings. Yesterday's programme can be heard in Listen Again and dealt with a host of "how d'ya pronounce" questions
jenku
Well-Known Member
So very British. You tell everyone not to call a flag a flag but an ensign and then you don't even know yourself how to pronounce it! 
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
How d'ya pronounce it? Enzine? Ensin? Ensun?
A virtual pint to the winner
"Mr Crusher"
tmh900
Well-Known Member
Could you elaborate on that one Orby? Are we still talking flags here?
Seafort
Well-Known Member
Stoneness
New Member
Ensign:
The Army rank was indeed pronounced "Ensyne" but in the old days this was the most junior commissioned rank so all he was allowed to do was to hold the 'flag'. Although, during the peninsular wars, one poor soul held on to it so tightly that the opposing troops charged in and had to cut his arm off to get it!
I have heard MN captains refer to it as the "Ens'n". The red duster name comes from the time when Britain had the biggest merchant fleet in the world bar none and the Red Ensign, 'flapped around the world like a Red Duster'. Or so I am told
The Army rank was indeed pronounced "Ensyne" but in the old days this was the most junior commissioned rank so all he was allowed to do was to hold the 'flag'. Although, during the peninsular wars, one poor soul held on to it so tightly that the opposing troops charged in and had to cut his arm off to get it!
I have heard MN captains refer to it as the "Ens'n". The red duster name comes from the time when Britain had the biggest merchant fleet in the world bar none and the Red Ensign, 'flapped around the world like a Red Duster'. Or so I am told
tmh900
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that Stoneness - and some added value with the history there too. Have two virtual beers
Seafort - you call it the freakin starship enterprise?
Anyways, it would appear the rest of us simply pronounce it as it is spelled -"n-sign". Well that's that one cleared up.
Seafort - you call it the freakin starship enterprise?
Anyways, it would appear the rest of us simply pronounce it as it is spelled -"n-sign". Well that's that one cleared up.