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

The hearing revealed other text messages between Titan and its mother ship as the deep-sea vessel began its trek to the sea floor to see the iconic British ocean liner that sank in 1912.

From BBC

On Monday, officials detailed communications between the Titan and its mother ship, the Polar Prince.

From BBC

A sprawling search and rescue mission involving four governments unfolded after the submersible lost contact with its mother ship, the Polar Prince, on the morning of 18 June 2023 and never resurfaced.

From BBC

Investigators with the US Coast Guard said it was among the final communications between the Titan and its mother ship before they lost contact for good.

From BBC

Support staff aboard the mother ship asked about the submersible's depth and weight, as well as whether it could still see the ship on its onboard display, but the crew's responses grew increasingly spotty, Coast Guard officials said.

From BBC

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel