admiral shipn.1
/ˈadm(ə)rəl ʃɪp/, /ˈadm(ə)rl̩ ʃɪp/, U.S. /ˈædm(ə)rəl ˌʃɪp/ Now historical.
A ship commanded by or carrying an admiral; = flagship n. 1; (also) the leading or principal ship of any fleet. Cf. admiral n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > flagship
admiral of the fleet1512
admiral ship1539
admiral1557
rear admiral1578
vice-admiralc1595
flag1652
flagship1672
1539 R. Morison tr. Frontinus Strategemes & Policies Warre i. i. sig. Av By force of tempest they were dryuen from the course of the ammyrall shyp [L. praetoriae navis].
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxvi. xliv. 943 c Livius..advaunced forward with the Admirall ship [L. praetoria nave].
1692 London Gaz. mmdcclxi/1 The Admiral Ship, which is to carry 70 Guns.
1720 J. Burchett Compl. Hist. Trans. at Sea ii. xvii. 167 The two Admiral-Ships charging each other with great Violence, immediately grappled.
1798 S. H. Wilcocke tr. J. S. Stavorinus Voy. E.-Indies I. ii. i. 211 In the road, nearest to the town, lies a guardship, commonly called the admiral-ship, with an ensign at the top.
1846 L. H. Sigourney Myrtis 65 Her old name, the Eagle, was fitter for an admiral-ship.
1884 E. Pierrepont Fifth Avenue to Alsaka xvi. 135 The ‘Swift-sure’ is the admiral-ship of the fleet.
1911 F. Storr Half Hundred Hero Tales 185 He saw the preconcerted signal—a flaming torch at the masthead of the admiral ship.
1993 Jrnl. Econ. & Social Hist. Orient 36 266 The deck..was higher than the tall aft-castle of Albuquerque's admiral ship, the famous ‘Flor de la Mar’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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