mother ship

noun

1. a vessel or craft that services others operating far from a home port or center.

mother ship

noun

1. a ship providing facilities and supplies for a number of small vessels

Word History and Origins

Origin of mother ship¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

He who once sailed the deep in the SEAL mother ship now sits in a New York City jail cell.

From The Daily Beast

A few moments later the airplanes came winging back to their mother ship.

From Project Gutenberg

For this reason submarines always require to act in concert with what has been called a “mother ship.”

From Project Gutenberg

You are far from home without a mother-ship, or she would have found you and furnished oil before this.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind the battle line lay the Ark Royal, a mother ship for seaplanes.

From Project Gutenberg

Lors, watching the screen, saw the oblong shape of the mother ship blurp into view and called out its position to his friend.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel