"company of musicians," 1580s, noun of action from consort (v.), by confusion with concert.

"act of ending or announcing the end of a broadcast," 1942, from the verbal phrase in the broadcasting sense (attested by 1923); see sign (v.) + off (adv.). It was used earlier as "stop doing something" (1838) and especially in reference to a formal agreement releasing a debtor from obligation.

"four in company," early 14c., from four + -some (2). Specific golf sense is from 1858.

dominant online service of the late 1990s, initialism (acronym) of America Online, a company name attested from late 1989.

"people of Ireland, the Irish people conceived as a company or body," late 14c., from Irish + -ry.

type of luxury automobile made by the Cadillac Automobile Company, established in 1902 by Detroit engine-maker Henry Martyn Leland and named for Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658-1730), French minor aristocrat and colonial governor who founded Detroit in 1701. The company was purchased by General Motors in 1909.

U.S. trademark name for PVC used as a cling-film, 1940, by Dow Chemical Company.

computer software company, founded 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

German manufacturing company, named for founder Max Braun, mechanical engineer in Frankfurt am Main (1921).

brand of typewriters manufactured by company founded in 1908 near Turin, Italy; named for founder, Camillo Olivetti.