First Fleet
Preserved but no longer current.
The first convoy of ships taking convicts to Australia in 1788. The second fleet arrived in 1790. To have been a first fleeter became a matter of some pride, and the ex- pression was in use as late as 1848.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “First Fleet” mean?
The first convoy of ships taking convicts to Australia in 1788. The second fleet arrived in 1790. To have been a first fleeter became a matter of some pride, and the ex- pression was in use as late as 1848.
Is “First Fleet” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.