ensign bearer
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A drunken man, who looks red in the face, or hoists his colours in his drink.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “ensign bearer” mean?
A drunken man, who looks red in the face, or hoists his colours in his drink.
Is “ensign bearer” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.