Rolls-Royce{™}

(also infml Rolls, Roller) n

any of the large, expensive, comfortable cars made by the Rolls-Royce company. Many people recognize them by the small metal statue (representing the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’) on the front of every Rolls-Royce car. The company was formed in 1905–6 by Charles Rolls (1877–1910) and Henry Royce (1863–1933) and also produced aircraft engines, e.g. for the Spitfire during World War II and later for Boeing. The motor car business became a separate company in 1973 and the cars are now made in Britain by the German firm BMW. The Rolls-Royce company is a major producer of engines for aeroplanes. The name Rolls-Royce is also used informally to refer to the best product of a particular type:

This is the Rolls-Royce of electric guitars – it costs £5 000.

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