Captain Kirk

English

Etymology

From a character in Star Trek, 1960s science-fiction TV series.

Noun

Captain Kirk (plural Captain Kirks)

1. A heroic person, particularly one with exaggerated bravery and leadership characteristics.
   • 1984, Nena, 99 Red Balloons (English version of 99 Luftballons from 1983).

     Everyone's a superhero. Everyone's a Captain Kirk.

   • 1999, Peter D. Hershock, Reinventing the Wheel: A Buddhist Response to the Information Age, page 90:

     There may be times when he is undone by his genius and it is the emotion-rich perspective of a Captain Kirk that finally saves the day, but this is the "mystery of being human."

   • 2003, Dan A. Kimball, The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations:

     Whatever the crisis may be, Captain Kirk is always at the helm making the decisions.

   • 2004, Liam Bracken, Exit Only, page 58:

     Flight engineer is not exactly a Captain Kirk position, either. But so what?