from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Standard \Stand"ard\ (-[~e]rd), n. [OF. estendart, F.
['e]tendard, 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]