Standard
a flag or ensign round which men rally, or under which they unite for a common purpose; a flag or carved symbolical figure, etc., erected on a long pole or staff, serving as a rallying point or the like. The ancient military standard consisted of a symbol carried consisted of a symbol on a pole like the Roman eagle, which may be considered as their national crescents, etc. standard. Each cohort had its own standard surmounted with a figure of Victory, an open hand, etc., the pole being decorated with circular medallions, peculiar standard adopted by Constan- The labarum was the tine. In mediæval times the standard was not square, like the banner, but elongated, like the guidon and pennon, but much larger, becoming narrow and rounded at the end, which was slit, unless the standard belonged to a prince of the blood-royal. The size of the standard was regulated by the rank of the person whose arms it bore. It was generally divided into three portionsone containing the arms of the knight, then came his cognizance or badge, and then his crest; these being divided by bands, on which was inscribed his war cry or motto, the whole being fringed with his livery or family colors. Cavalry standards are properly banners of a small size. The corresponding flags used by infantry regiments are called colors.
In the United States Army the standards are the national and regimental silk flags, which are carried by cavalry and field artillery regiments.