arch. Forms: 6 ancyent, ansyant, ancientt, auncient(e, -chient, 6–8 antient, 7 auncyent, 8 anshent, 6– ancient. [a corruption of ENSIGN, early forms of which, like ensyne, enseygne, were confounded with ancien, ancyen, the contemporary forms of ancient, with which they thus became formally identified from 16th to 18th c. Also spelt by pseudo-etymology antesign.]
1. An ensign, standard or flag: pl. insignia, colors.
1554. Chron. Grey Friars, 87. I know that theys be Wyettes ancienttes.
1569. Rising in North, 105, in Percy, Rel., I. 293. Erle Percy there his ancyent spred.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 23. The devise of this ensigne or auncient was flames of fire.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxii. 331. When Osyris led his people to Battell, he had diuers Antesignes … as in one a Dog, in another an Ox.
1610. Chesters Triumph Particulars, 1. A Man … carying an Auncient of our colours of S. George.
1622. F. Markham, Dec. Warre, II. ix. 73. This Ensigne we corruptly call Antient, and I haue seene it written Antesigne.
1629. S’hertogenbosh, 48. To let flye all their Ancients as well vpon the gates, as the walles.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 34. Hang out a signal, viz., a red ancient, on the mizen-top.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Ancient in the naval armament is the flag or streamer, borne in the stern of a ship.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xv. (1857), 223. Her ancient suspended half-way over the deck.
2. A standard-bearer, an ‘ensign.’ (The full name was ancient-bearer: see below.)
1596. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 120. Welcome, ancient Pistoll! Ibid., Hen. V., II. vi. 20. (Flu.) Hee is call’d aunchient Pistoll.
1598. Stow, Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. xxxi. 572/2. Their first elected Auntient or Ensign bearer.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. xv. 191. To see the flesh of our Ancient as torn as his colours.
[1830. G. P. R. James, Darnley, xxxviii. 170. The banner of their company by their own ancient.]
3. Comb. † ancient-bearer = prec. sense.
1579. Churchw. Acc. St. Marg. Westm. (1797), 19. Paid to the soiers, the ansyant-bearer, and to him that played upon the drome £1 7s. 4d.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Alférez, an ancient-bearer, Signifer.
1606. Act 3 Jas. I., v. No Recusant conuict … shall beare any Office or Charge, as Captaine, Lieutenant, Corporall, Sergeant, Ancient-bearer.
