means A recognized level of quality, behavior, or measurement that things are expected to meet or be judged against — or, in its older sense, a flag or banner that marks a rallying point.

from From Old French 'estandart,' a flag or rallying banner planted on the battlefield. Its deeper roots are debated: it may come from Frankish 'standhard' ('stand firm' — the place you hold your ground), or be influenced by Latin 'extendere' ('to stretch out,' as a banner unfurls). The military meaning came first; only later did 'standard' drift from the literal flag everyone gathered under to the figurative measure everyone is held to — though both senses share the idea of a fixed point others align themselves with.