flagship English · revision 39838

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1672, London Gazette}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈflæɡʃɪp/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed [[af|en|flag|ship]] in English.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016) Etymonline notes that at sea a ''flag'' is properly the banner that marks an admiral's ship among the others of the squadron, the rest being ensigns, pennants and standards.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A ship carrying the flag of an admiral: 1672, in the ''London Gazette'',^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) the 1670s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Merriam-Webster also records the sense "the finest or largest ship of a shipping line".^(MWU 2024) The figurative use, for the leader or best of a group, and especially the main product of a company's range, is recorded from 1933;^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) the attributive use, as in a ''flagship store'' or ''flagship model'', from 1977.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1672 – a ship bearing an admiral's flag.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1933 – figurative, the leading member or product.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1977 – attributive, leading, best promoted.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[ship]] that carries the [[admiral]] or commander of a [[fleet]] and flies his flag.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The largest or finest ship of a shipping [[line]].^(MWU 2024)

+ # The best, largest or most important member of a group, such as a company's leading product or shop: ''The paper is the flagship of the media group.''^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Being the leading or most important one of its kind: ''a flagship store''.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flag]]

+ * [[ship]]

+ * [[admiral]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}