n. [ OF. estendart, F. étendard, probably fr. L. extendere to spread out, extend, but influenced by E. stand. See Extend. ] 1. A flag; colors; a banner; especially, a national or other ensign. [ 1913 Webster ] His armies, in the following day,
On those fair plains their standards proud display. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. That which is established as a rule or model by authority, custom, or general consent; criterion; test. [ 1913 Webster ] The court, which used to be the standard of propriety and correctness of speech. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ] A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Coinage) The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority. [ 1913 Webster ] By the present standard of the coinage, sixty-two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Hort.) A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis. [ 1913 Webster ] In France part of their gardens is laid out for flowers, others for fruits; some standards, some against walls. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Bot.) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Mech. & Carp.) An upright support, as one of the poles of a scaffold; any upright in framing. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. (Shipbuilding) An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. The sheth of a plow. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. A large drinking cup. Greene. [ 1913 Webster ]
Standard bearer, an officer of an army, company, or troop, who bears a standard; -- commonly called color sergeantor color bearer; hence, the leader of any organization; as, the standard bearer of a political party. [ 1913 Webster ]
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