Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. 1 A person who carries a flag or banner (a standard). 2 A person who visibly leads.
WordNet
n. an outstanding leader of a political movement
the soldier who carries the standard of the unit in military parades or in battle [syn: color bearer]
Wikipedia
[[Image:Diadobombero-parana.jpg|thumb|
Standard-bearer of Firefighters Corps of Paraná State - Brazil.]]
A standard-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem called an ensign or standard, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a formal, visual symbol of a state, prince, military unit, etc.
This can either be an occasional duty, often seen as an honour (especially on parade), or a permanent charge (also on the battlefield); the second type has even led in certain cases to this task being reflected in official rank titles such as Ensign and Cornet.
Many terms exist, often specifying the type of standard borne (in various cases named in parentheses after the bearer).
Usage examples of "standard-bearer".
He watched the female standard-bearers enter the arena, remembering a day when he would have been checking out the fannies in the saddles instead of the horseflesh under them.
Captain Cain was over two bands, namely, the zealous and the angry blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the murdering club.
Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, namely, the tyrannical and encroaching blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the great bloodhound.
Captain Saul was captain over two bands, namely, the groundlessly jealous and the devilishly furious blood-men: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was three bloody darts cast at harmless David.
Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spirits are joined in one under him: his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was the stake, the flame, and the good man in it.
And, till thou comest, thy standard-bearer shall be my door porter, and thy scutcheon shall hang night and day at my door-post!
Behind the men of Honiton came the Puritan clothworkers of Wellington, with their mayor upon a white horse beside their standard-bearer, and a band of twenty instruments before him.
Just behind all these Cammerling saw ranks of archers advancing with fire-headed missiles on their bows, and the whole mass was being urged on by horn-blowers, cymbalists and bull-roarers and standard-bearers staggering under huge pennants realistically resembling entire flayed human hides.
Sergeant Gedd, foremost of the standard-bearers riding with him today, and was about to pursue his own business.
Union standard-bearer was alone, and grayback infantry were pointing their rifles at him.
Flanked by standard-bearers, a trumpeter, the Dainnan, the Legions of Eldaraigne and battalions from the armies of every country in Erith with their banners and gonfalons, the gay pennons unfolding their points along the breeze, this sovereign of a lost Realm looked toward the wide lands opening out from the Landbridge and advanced steadily into Namarre.
Stephenson is widely considered a standard-bearer of hip, postmodern science fiction, he often resorts to one of the hoariest of genre techniques: the infodump.
Marshals, standard-bearers, and other officers were ranged at short distances from each other along the lines.
After a time, one of the standard-bearers moved from his place in the forerank, advanced a few places and stopped.
A standard-bearer on the walkway above him held his personal flag on a long pole.