Internet
shipping
What does shipping mean?
The fan practice of wanting two (or more) characters to be in a relationship; expressed through art, fic, and paired cosplays.
"They're clearly shipping those two, judging by the matching couple cosplay."
Origin
Clipped from 'relationship'; coined by X-Files fans in the 1990s.
Frequently asked questions
What does shipping mean in fandom?
It's the practice of wanting two or more characters to be in a relationship, expressed through art, fanfic and paired cosplays.
Where does the word shipping come from?
It's clipped from 'relationship' and was coined by X-Files fans in the 1990s.
What is a ship?
A 'ship' is a specific pairing that fans support; to 'ship' two characters is to want them together.
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