the ensign of the British Merchant Navy, having the Union Jack on a red background at the upper corner of the vertical edge alongside the hoist
Compare White Ensign, Blue Ensign
red duster in American English
noun
informal
a red ensign having the Union Jack as a canton, flown by most British merchant ships
Word origin
[1880–85]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, impressionism, irredentist, pari-mutuel, quotation mark