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单词 lady
释义

ladyn.

Brit. /ˈleɪdi/, U.S. /ˈleɪdi/
Forms:

α. Old English hlæfdie, Old English hlæfdig (rare), Old English hlafdia (Northumbrian), Old English hlafdige (rare), Old English læfdige (rare), Old English–early Middle English hlæfdige, Old English–early Middle English hlefdige, late Old English hlæfedig, late Old English hlefdie, late Old English læfedi, late Old English–early Middle English læfdi, early Middle English hlædige, early Middle English hlæfedie, early Middle English hlafdie, early Middle English hlauedi, early Middle English hlauedige, early Middle English læfdie, early Middle English læuedi, early Middle English lafdi, early Middle English lafdie, early Middle English lafedi, early Middle English laffdiȝ ( Ormulum), early Middle English lafuedi, early Middle English lasdi (transmission error), early Middle English leafdi, early Middle English leawedi, early Middle English lefwedi, early Middle English lehedi, early Middle English leiuedi, early Middle English leofdi, Middle English lauedi, Middle English lauedy, Middle English lavydy, Middle English lefdi, Middle English lefdy, Middle English lefdye, Middle English leudi, Middle English leudy, Middle English leued (transmission error), Middle English leuede, Middle English leuedi, Middle English leuedie, Middle English leuedy, Middle English leuidi, Middle English levedi, Middle English levedy, Middle English lheuedi (Kent), Middle English lheuedy (Kent), Middle English liuedi (probably transmission error); N.E.D. (1901) also records a form Middle English lavede.

β. early Middle English–1500s ladi, Middle English laday, Middle English laddy, Middle English lade, Middle English ladyse (plural), Middle English ladysse (plural), Middle English laidi, Middle English layde, Middle English laydy, Middle English ledi, Middle English ledy, Middle English 1600s laidy, Middle English–1600s ladie, Middle English–1600s ladise (plural), Middle English–1600s (1800s– archaic) ladye, Middle English– lady, 1500s ladey, 1500s lede, 1800s laady (Irish English (Wexford)); English regional 1800s– laady (Yorkshire), 1800s– leade (Wiltshire), 1800s– leady (south-western), 1800s– leddie (Cheshire), 1800s– leddy (northern and north-west midlands); Scottish pre-1700 laday, pre-1700 lade, pre-1700 ladi, pre-1700 ladice (genitive), pre-1700 laedy, pre-1700 laidey, pre-1700 laidie, pre-1700 laidy, pre-1700 laidye, pre-1700 layde, pre-1700 laydie, pre-1700 laydy, pre-1700 laydye, pre-1700 leadie, pre-1700 leady, pre-1700 leday, pre-1700 ledde, pre-1700 leddi (in compounds), pre-1700 lede, pre-1700 ledie, pre-1700 1700s ladie, pre-1700 1700s– lady, pre-1700 1800s– ladye, pre-1700 1800s– leddie, pre-1700 1800s– leddy, pre-1700 1900s– ledy, 1900s– lathie, 1900s– lathy, 1900s– lethy (Orkney).

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: loaf n.1, *dīge.
Etymology: < loaf n.1 + an otherwise unattested Old English *dīge, lit. ‘kneader’ (compare dey n.1) < the same Germanic base as Gothic digan to knead (see dough n., and compare discussion at that entry). Many senses and compounds of the word have parallels at lord n. (see discussion at that entry), which also shows a similar original semantic motivation. The semantic development of lady n. is much influenced by Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French dame dame n. (and its parallels in other Romance languages) and its etymon classical Latin domina domina n., which the English word frequently translates (compare discussion at lord n.).Like the corresponding Old English masculine designation hlāford lord n., the word has no formal parallels in other Germanic languages; Old Icelandic lafði is < Middle English. The original Old English form was hlǣfdige , with mutation of the vowel in the first element. Old English ǣ in the first syllable, being regularly shortened in Middle English before two consonants, regularly developed into ă and ĕ according to dialect. The second element of the compound, originally -dige , was reduced to -di in late Old English and early Middle English; the final f of the first element first became v by partial regressive assimilation, and was later completely assimilated to the initial d of the second element, giving rise to the β. forms (attested from the early 14th cent. onwards). The resulting disyllabic word with stressed open syllable, fulfilled the conditions for Middle English vowel lengthening in open syllable, whence (after the Great Vowel Shift) the modern standard pronunciation. Scots leddy (also English regional (northern and north midland)) apparently belongs to a small group of words in which northern Old English long ā was shortened at the stage of raising, yielding short open ę instead of its long counterpart ę̄ (see A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Sc. Vowels (2002) §21.2.2). However, such forms with shortened vowel are much less frequent in Older Scots than forms with long vowel. The weak genitive singular (Old English hlǣfdigan ) became by regular phonetic change in Middle English identical with the nominative; several compounds that appear to be attributive are in fact probably reflexes of genitive compounds, as Lady chapel n., Lady Day n., etc. With sense 3d compare similar uses in French (attested from at least the late 13th cent.), e.g. Anglo-Norman and Middle French madame ma mere , madame vostre femme , madame vostre mere , etc. With sense 9a compare Middle French, French dame (c1480 (in the passage translated in quot. 1490) or earlier in this sense). With sense 9b compare German Dame (17th cent. in this sense) and its model French dame (1662 or earlier in this sense).
I. Senses referring to a woman.
1.
a. The female head of a household; a woman who has authority over servants, attendants, or slaves (now chiefly archaic or historical). Cf. lady of the house n. at Phrases 1a(a).In some uses perhaps influenced by sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority > woman
ladyeOE
mistressa1375
goodwifea1533
forewoman1709
padrona1744
queen bee1790
bibi1816
the Mrs1821
society > authority > rule or government > rule or government of family or tribe > head of family, tribe, or clan > [noun] > head of household > woman
ladyeOE
house lady?c1225
housewifec1225
goodwifec1275
mistressa1375
hussy1530
madam1647
goodya1680
housemistress1689
the Mrs1821
housemother1822
miesiesa1931
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) cxxii. 3 (2) Sicut oculi ancillae in manibus dominae suę, ita oculi nostri ad dominum deum nostrum : [s]we [s]we egan menenes hondum hlafdian hire swe egan ur to dryhten gode urum.
OE Ælfric Gloss. (St. John's Oxf.) 301 Materfamilias, hiredes modor oððe hlæfdige.
OE Poenitentiale Pseudo-Egberti (Laud) ii. iv. 17 Gif hwylc wif for hwylcum lyðrum andan hire wifman swingeð, & heo þurh þa swingele wurð dead,..fæste seo hlæfdige vii ger.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 6 Þeos [sc. the outward] riwle nis nawt bute forte serui þe oþer [sc. the inner rule] þe oþer is as leafdi, þeos as hire þuften.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 968 Forð siðen ghe bi abram slep Of hire leuedi nam ghe no kep.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Psalms cxxii. 2 As the eȝen of the hondmaide in the hondis of hir ladi.
c1450 (c1400) Bk. Vices & Virtues (Huntington) (1942) 227 (MED) Sche..was Iosepes lady, for he serued hire hosebond.
1640 R. Brathwait Ar't Asleepe Husband? 68 That finitive girle; who comming downe from her lady to a gentleman; and desirous to excuse her lady, [etc.]
1655 J. Howell 4th Vol. Familiar Lett. xxxvi. 86 In their Churches,..the Laundresse gig by geoul with her Lady.
1718 Free-thinker No. 17. 2 Her Maid..lisps out to me, that her Lady is gone to Bed.
1745 J. Swift Direct. to Servants 50 When you are sent on a Message, deliver it in your own Words..not in the Words of your Master or Lady.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth xxiii To make her lady's safety the principal object of her care, setting all other considerations aside.
1842 Knickerbocker Mar. 233 With trembling voice he asked of the menials who waited in the hall, if their lady was at home.
1901 Atlantic Monthly May 654 I'd brought her back with me if it had been seemly; but when I so advised, Susan'd hear none o' me, 'count o' fearin' to alarm her lady.
1995 L. Roy Humming Birds I. 29 Lucy takes a needle And sews her lady's clothes.
b. A woman who rules over subjects, a queen; a woman to whom obedience or feudal homage is due. Now rare except in lady of the manor n. at Phrases 1a(b).In Old English used spec. (instead of cwēn queen n.) as the title of the consort of the king of Wessex (afterwards of England); cf. quots. OE, lOE at sense 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > sovereign ruler or monarch > queen > [noun]
queeneOE
ladyOE
princess?a1425
regine?a1513
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > lord > [noun] > feudal lord > female
ladyOE
seignioressea1604
seigneuress1849
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > lady > with feudal authority > specifically in position of feudal lord
ladyOE
OE Lambeth Psalter xliv. 10 Asstitit regina a dextris tuis in uestitu deaurato circumdata uarietate : ætstod kquen uel hlæfdige æt swiðran þinum on ofergyldum hrægle ymbsett mid fagnesse uel missonlicnysse.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 918 Her Æðelflæd forðferde Myrcena hlæfdige.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6310 Bruttes nemnede þa laȝen æfter þar lafuedi.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xlvii. 7 Thou agreggedist the ȝoc gretli, and seidest, In to euermor I shal ben a ladi.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 129 Þe laste lady of Cartage hadde riȝt suche a manere ende as Dydo þe firste lady hadde.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. ii. 65 Asia the grete..taketh the name of a quene that somtyme was lady of this regyon and was callid Asia.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 362 ‘And also,’ quod she, ‘I am lady of the reame cleped the londe susteyne.’
1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 10 We suspect nocht zoure gentle humanitie,..to be offendit with vs zour pure anis, bot our Souerane Ladyis fre liegis.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. Proem sig. A2v Great Ladie of the greatest Isle.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) §43 50 Beatrix de Vallibus was lady of this land.
1645 J. Milton Arcades in Poems 56 Bring your Flocks, and live with us, Here ye shall have greater grace, To serve the Lady of this place.
1714 J. Gay Shepherd's Week Proeme sig. A3v Knowing no age so justly to be instiled Golden, as this of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Dream Fair Women xxxi, in Poems (new ed.) 130 No marvel, sovran lady! in fair field, Myself for such a face had boldly died.
1862 R. Burton in Proc. Royal Geogr. Soc. 6 247 We took formal possession of the place; flew the union jack; drank the health of the Sovereign Lady with our last bottle of champagne.
1971 R. E. Witt Isis in Anc. World (1997) v. 64 The Pharaohs pay their devotions to Philae's Lady of the South and Queen of the Southern People.
2000 Eng. Hist. Rev. 115 384 Æthelflaed, King Alfred's daughter (the Lady of the Mercians), presented as the model for all lay noblewomen.
c. figurative and in figurative contexts. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > [noun] > female > thing personified as
ladyOE
mistressa1393
governess1531
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 22 Seo sawul is þæs lichoman hlæfdige, and heo gewissað þa fif andgitu þæs lichaman, swa swa of cynesætle.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 134 Þe flesch [walde] awilgen & bicume to fulitoȝen towart hire lauedi ȝef hit nere ibeaten.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xlvii. 5 Thou shalt no more be clepid the ladi of reumes [1611 the Ladie of kingdomes].
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 3191 The lady of the highe ward, Which from hir tour lokide thiderward. Resoun men clepe that lady.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Auspex Musa auspice..the ladie of learnyng beyng our guide.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xvi. 304 The Spirit of ours..was free of it selfe, and Ladie of the bodie, and therefore could not receyue her first corruption from the bodie.
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie B 2 b By the influence of the Sunne she [sc. the Eagle] hath a marueilous property, which is, to be Lady of all other birdes.
1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 65 Rome, once the Ladie of the world.
a1610 J. Healey tr. Epictetus Manuall (1636) 79 Beware that thou hurt not thy minde, the Lady of thy workes, and thine actions governesse.
1820 ‘B. Cornwall’ Sicilian Story (ed. 2) 46 The moon is up... Why she smiles, And bids you tarry: will you disobey The Lady of the sky?
1908 R. Farrer In Old Ceylon iii. 45 Lanka was Lady of the sea and arbitress of East and West, a mighty land for the mighty ones to reckon with.
d. A woman who is the object of (esp. chivalrous) love or devotion. Cf. lady-love n. 1. Now chiefly historical or poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > one who is loved or a sweetheart > specifically a female sweetheart or girlfriend
lief971
ladya1393
ladyshipa1393
speciala1400
amiec1400
womanc1400
amoreta1425
mistressc1425
paramoura1450
fair ladya1470
girl?a1513
sooterkin1530
Tib1533
she1547
lady-love1568
jug1569
young lady1584
pigeon1592
love-lass1594
lass1596
dowsabel1612
swainling1615
lucky1629
Dulcinea1638
Lindabrides1640
inamorata1651
baby1684
best girl1691
lady friend1733
young woman1822
moll1823
querida1834
sheila1839
bint1855
tart1864
babykins1870
Dona1874
novia1874
fancy-girl1892
girlfriend1892
cliner1895
tootsy1895
dinah1898
best1904
twist and twirl1905
jane1906
kitten1908
patootie1918
meisie1919
bride1924
gf1925
jelly1931
sort1933
a bit (also piece) of homework1945
beast1946
queen1955
momma1964
mi'jita1970
her indoors1979
girlf1991
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. 554 (MED) Min herte is growen into Ston, So that my lady therupon Hath such a priente of love grave, [etc.].
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) i. l. 811 Many a man hath loue ful dere ybought, Twenty wynter that his lady wyste, That neuere yet his lady mouth yet kyste.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xviii. 83 You are my lady, you are my maysteres Whome I shall serue with all my gentylnes.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. C.ii (heading) A praise of his loue: wherin he [r]eproueth them tha compare their Ladies with his.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 436 What did you whisper in your Ladies eare? View more context for this quotation
1633 T. James Strange Voy. 71 This euening being May euen; we..chose Ladies, and did ceremoniously weare their names in our Caps.
1656 in J. Phillips Sportive Wit i. 28 Tis not my Ladies face that makes me love her, Though beauty there doth rest.
1803 R. Burns in Scots Musical Mus. VI. 573 My Lady's gown there's gairs upon't And gowden flowers sae rare upon't.
1867 Ld. Tennyson Window 120 Never a line from my lady yet! Is it ay or no?
1881 D. G. Rossetti House of Life viii My lady only loves the heart of Love.
1912 E. Pound tr. G. Cavalcanti Sonnets & Ballate 99 Light do I see within my Lady's eyes And loving spirits in its plenisphere.
1973 Hispania 56 130/2 The lover should serve his lady without hope of reward.
1991 D. Wakoski Medea Sorceress 26 I see you as my Knight, and myself as The Lady you serve, though such medieval images don't actually fit in with my Southern California heritage.
e. A woman in attendance on a queen, a lady-in-waiting.
ΚΠ
1473 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 29 For lyveray govnis to sex ladys of the Quenis chalmire.
1561 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1916) XI. 65 For vij elnis..blak to be vj cussinettis to the Quenis gracis ladeis.
1596 Z. Jones tr. M. Barleti Hist. G. Castriot vii. 263 In this place during that quarter of the yeare did the Queen make her abode, accompanied with her Ladies, maides, and officers.
1662 H. Foulis Hist. Wicked Plots i. viii. 49 The Queen and her Ladies being drest in too fine Cloathes.
1704 J. Banks Albion Queens v. i. 52 (stage direct.) Enter Queen Elizabeth and Ladies.
1853 A. Strickland Lives Queens of Eng. ii. ii. 95 Cavendish mentions Thomas Arundel as one of the gentlemen of Cardinal Wolsey's privy chamber;..the name of the queen's lady does not occur.
1902 Folk-lore 13 249 Seven of Queen Eleanora's (of Castile) ladies.
1948 Times 27 Oct. 4/2 The attendant dignitaries grouped themselves on the King's right, the Queen's ladies on her left.
2002 Contra Costa (Calif.) Times (Nexis) 15 Aug. d5 Each of the three kingsmen [in the play] is smitten with a different one of the queen's ladies.
2. Christian Church (chiefly Roman Catholic Church).
a. Applied to the Virgin Mary, whose authority and pre-eminence are conceived as comparable to those of a queen (also as a form of address).The more usual form is Our Lady (see Our Lady n.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > Mary > [noun]
ladyOE
queenOE
MaryOE
St MaryOE
starOE
Our LadylOE
lemana1225
maidena1225
maid Marya1225
heaven queenc1225
mothera1275
maiden Maryc1300
Star of the Seac1300
advocatrixc1390
mother-maidc1390
flower, gem, etc., of virginitya1393
the Virgina1393
mediatricea1400
paramoura1400
salver14..
advocatrice?a1430
Mother of God?a1430
way of indulgence?a1430
advocatessc1450
mother-maidenc1450
rose of Jerichoa1456
mediatrixc1475
viergec1475
addresseressa1492
fleur-de-lis?a1513
rosine?a1513
salvatrice?a1513
saviouress1563
mediatressa1602
advocatress1616
Christotokos1625
Deipara1664
V.M.1670
Madonnaa1684
the Virgin Mother1720
Panagia1776
Mater Dolorosa1800
B.V.M.1838
dispensatrixa1864
Theotokos1874
dispensatress1896
OE Crist I 284 Þa hyhstan on heofonum eac..cweþað ond singað þæt þu sie hlæfdige halgum meahtum wuldorweorudes.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 161 Hie [sc. Mary] is..alre maidene maide and heuene quen and englene lasdi [read lafdi].
?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 29 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 53 O blessid lady, the cleer light of day!
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 39/2 By Goddes blessed Ladie (that was euer his othe).
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. iv. 61 O Gods lady deare, Are you so hot, marrie come vp I trow.
1828 Amer. Baptist Mag. Apr. 115/1 You know too, what extravagant notions they [sc. Catholics] have of the holiness and power of the Virgin Mary... They call her the Lady as Christ is called the Lord.
1852 tr. Novena in Honour Most Blessed Virgin Mary 3 Christian piety had discovered many ways of honouring this dear Lady.
2004 C. Roberts Visions Virgin Mary vi. 174 On eight separate occasions the Lady appeared to Mariette in the vegetable garden.
b. An image of the Virgin Mary. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > Christian religious
Our Lady1459
lady1473
virgina1684
Mater Dolorosa1800
bambino1866
1473–4 in Sussex Archaeol. Coll. (1849) 2 317 (MED) It., in manibus Willelmus Creppse duos vaccas pris xiij s. iiij d. de legato de Willelmus Gratwyke, to fynd a tapre afor Sante Antonie et unam afor ȝowr Lady.
1538 H. Latimer Let. 6 Oct. in Serm. & Remains (1845) (modernized text) II. 403 By reason of their lady they have been given to much idleness; but now that she is gone, they be turned to laboriousness.
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Agst. Idolatry iii, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) ii. 225 Christophers, Ladies, and Mary Magdalenes, and other Saints.
1606 T. W. Araignem. & Execution late Traytors sig. Dv Their [sc. Papists'] kissing of babies, their kneeling to wodden Ladies.
1980 R. C. Trexler Public Life Renaissance Florence (1991) ii. 63 By 1758, the ancient painting had vanished, and a new Lady was painted.
†c. the Lady in Lent: the feast of the Annunciation (25th March). Cf. Lady Day n. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Annunciation (25 March) > [noun]
Our Lady dayc1230
Our Lady day in Lentc1300
Saint Mary dayc1300
Our Lady in Marchc1325
annunciation1389
Our Lady's day1389
Lady Day1530
Annunciation Day1584
the Lady in Lent1608
1608 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 213 A great frost from Martinmas till almost ye Lady in lent.
3. As an honorific title.
a. Used when speaking of or to a woman who is of high rank, esp. a member of the nobility. Also with the. Also in my lady.In the 15th and 16th centuries Lady was prefixed to the first name of a female member of the royal family (cf. princess n. 1). In the United Kingdom the title has come to be applied in the following ways: as a less formal substitute for Marchioness (of), Countess (of), Viscountess, Baroness; preceding the first name of the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl; preceding the surname of the wife or widow of a baronet or knight; preceding the forename of a husband who is called Lord as a courtesy title; (in Scotland) preceding the surname of the wife of a chief or chieftain and preceding the name of an estate of which the woman or her husband is proprietor.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for woman of rank
my ladyOE
ladyOE
damea1225
ladyshipa1393
madam1543
ladydom?1553
gentlewoman1566
young ladyship1702
milady1778
Sitt1838
OE Charter: Lady Ælfgifu to Christ Church, Canterbury (Sawyer 1229) in A. J. Robertson Anglo-Saxon Charters (1956) 182 Ic Ælfgyfu seo hlæfdige Eadweardes cyninges modor geærndede æt Cnute cyninge minum hlaforde þæt land æt Niwantune.
lOE Charter: Bp. Ælfwine to Osgod (Sawyer 1391) in A. J. Robertson Anglo-Saxon Charters (1956) 184 Þyses is to gewitnesse, Eadweard cingc & Ælfgyfu seo hlefdige & Eadsige arcebiscop.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 11156 Þa læuedi Ælene [c1300 Otho Eleyne þe leafdi] þa halie quene to Jerusalem wende..to vinden þa rode.
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 133 (MED) My Lady Greystokke..is a barownys wyfe & dowtyr to my Lady of Westmorlonde.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) Ded. 1 Unto the right noble puyssant & excellent pryncesse, my redoubted lady, my lady Margarete, duchesse of Somercete.
1509 in Fisher's Wks. (1876) 288 The moost excellent pryncesse my lady the kynges graundame.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccxxxviiiv The lady Marques Dorset.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. O.iiv (heading) An Epitaph of the ladye Margaret Lee.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. ii. (stage direct.) Enter Lady Anne with the hearse of Harry the 6.
1599 Master Broughtons Lett. Answered vii. 21 Who selected him..to bee the Lady Margarets Reader.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. G2 Pleaseth the Lady Iane, ile helpe her off With her night-Gowne.
1684 Lady Russell Lett. 20 Apr. (1807) 28 I hear my Lord Gainsborough and my Lady will be shortly at Chilten.
1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer sig. a4v Pers. Dram. Lord Touchwood..Sir Paul Plyant..Lady Touchwood..Lady Plyant.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xi. 196 The General's Wife, the Lady Fairfax.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 353 The Lady Bellasis, the widow of the Lord Bellasis's son.
1719 M. Prior (title) Verses spoken to Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles Harley, Countess of Oxford.
1766 Gentleman's Mag. 36 103/1 Lady Anne Conway, eldest daughter to the Earl of Hertford.
1833 Ld. Tennyson (title) Lady Clara Vere de Vere.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair II. xiv. 148 Lothair danced with Lady Flora Falkirk, and her sister, Lady Grizell, was in the same quadrille.
1887 W. S. Gilbert Ruddigore 11 Whose middle-class lives are embarrassed by wives Who long to parade as ‘My Lady’.
1928 E. Waugh Decline & Fall i. viii. 81 Please, sir, Lord and Lady Circumference have arrived, sir.
1934 J. W. Cunliffe Leaders Victorian Revol. ii. 29 Lady John Russell records that when she and her husband founded a day school at Petersham in 1849, objection was made on the ground that it would ‘ruin the aristocratic character of the village’.
1992 J. Burchill Sex & Sensibility 234 When the Lady Diana Spencer married..the Prince of Wales in 1981, the media went wild.
2002 Observer (Nexis) 17 Nov. (Mag.) 16 She was happy for him [sc. Richard Branson] to get his knighthood, but very uncomfortable with the idea of being called Lady Branson.
b. An honorific title prefixed to the names of goddesses, personifications, etc. See also Lady Luck n. at Compounds 2d.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for woman of rank > for names of goddesses or personifications
ladyc1275
Dame Fortunec1305
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1198 Leafdi Diana, leoue Diana, heȝe Diana, help me to neode.
1508 W. Dunbar Goldyn Targe (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems (1998) I. 186 Thare saw I..The fresch Aurora and lady Flora schene.
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Sii If that same worthye princesse lady money did not alon stoppe vp the way betwene vs and our liuing.
1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Bvj Thus, graunte you must, that feare of wronge, Set ladye lawe in forte.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 20 [Those] that make so small accowmpt of religion and good lyfe, otherwyse then of there belly God and ladie pleasure.
a1625 J. Boys Wks. (1629) 487 Ladie Venus dwels at the signe of the Iuie bush.
1706 R. Brocklesby Explic. Gospel-theism i. vi. 116/1 In Rome the Lady Fortune had more Temples than any other God or Goddess.
1747 J. Cosgrave Genuine Hist. Lives & Actions Most Notorious Irish Highwaymen (ed. 3) 68 He made the best of his Way to England, where Fortune forsaking him, the Lady Poverty came to pay him a Visit.
1846 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. July 50 Let lady Fortune go for once, we'll see what Nature has given you: a handsome face, a graceful and goodly outside.
1890 ‘M. Field’ Tragic Mary i. vi. 40 Like lady Venus she raved over her mortal.
1953 Trans. Grotius Soc. 39 139 We [sc. Lawyers] do not exclude any citizen from our company if he or she will worship the Lady Justitia.
2004 P. Mommsen Homage to Broken Man x. 76 There was no bottled oxygen. And there was no doctor—Lady Poverty had made sure of that.
c. Prefixed to a title of honour or designation of office as an added mark of respect. Now only in fixed collocations. See also Lady Mayoress n. at Compounds 2d.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for woman of rank > additional title
ladyc1405
mistress1541
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale (Hengwrt) l. 636 My lady queene hath child with outen doute.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales (Hengwrt) (2003) Shipman-Prioress link l.13 My lady Prioresse.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 237/1 Lady maystres, dame dhonnevr; govuernante.
1576 T. Twyne Schoolemaster iv. xxvi. sig. Sii An Archbishop beeyng in visitation, sharply punished a certayn Lady Prioresse of a Nunrie for trespaces.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iii. 202 You shall haue two noble Partners with you: the old Duchesse of Norfolke, and Lady Marquesse Dorset. View more context for this quotation
1638 J. Ford Fancies iv. 57 Are you not inthroan'd The Ladie Regent.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. i. 3 The Lady Mary, the Kings daughter, appointed for the lady godmother.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 236 The lady directress of the ball..had her conveyed to another room.
1820 W. Scott Abbot I. xii. 243 ‘They call me Lady Abbess, or Mother at the least, who address me,’ said Dame Bridget.
1849 Eclectic Mag. Jan. 123/2 The Lady High Commissioner summons all loyal lieges to attend her court on the queen's birthnight.
1934 J. E. Neale Queen Elizabeth i. 9 Elizabeth was..under the charge of Lady Bryan, who had been Lady Mistress, or Governess, to Mary when a baby.
1993 Guardian (Nexis) 1 Feb. 17 At Channel 4 the lady high commissioner was petitioned by hordes of indie television companies.
1994 Daily Tel. 26 Apr. 2/6 Henceforth, Lord Justice Butler-Sloss, England's senior woman judge, becomes Lady Justice Butler-Sloss.
d. Prefixed to a designation of relationship, as mother, sister, wife, etc., as a mark of respect. Now chiefly in lady wife, esp. in (humorous) representations of overly formal or genteel speech.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > title > for a woman > for relatives
lady1409
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married woman > [noun] > wife
wifeeOE
womanc1275
peerc1330
spousessc1384
ladyc1390
good lady1502
girl?a1513
spousage1513
little lady1523
the weaker vessel1526
companion1535
wedlock1566
Mrs1572
dame1574
rib?1590
feme1595
fathom1602
feme covert1602
shrew1606
wife of one's bosom1611
kickie-wickiea1616
heifer1616
sposa1624
bosom-partner1633
goodwife1654
little woman1715
squaw1767
the Mrs1821
missus1823
maw1826
lady wife1840
tart1864
mistress1873
mama1916
ball and chain1921
trouble and strife1929
old boot1958
1409 in J. Slater Early Scots Texts (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 73 We [sc. the Earl of Angus] haf sett to the sele of oure lady oure modyr.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1932) III. l. 16281 (MED) Lady Modyr..ȝoure broþer he [sc. Arthur] is.
c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 522 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 239 And when he sawe hys mother goynge, He sayde, alas, Lady mother, speake with me.
1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iii. xii, in Wks. 227/2 But were I Pope. By my soule quod he, I would ye wer, & my lady your wife Popesse too.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus ii. vi. 983 A Turkey Pye, or a piece of Venison, which my Lady Grand-mother sent me.
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy iv. 63 Your businesse with my Lady daughter, Toss-pot?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xv. v. 231 Answer for yourself, Lady Cousin. View more context for this quotation
1794 T. Dwight Greenfield Hill vi. 141 Ambitious, with his lady-wife, Aims at a higher walk of life.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel vi. xxiii. 182 But that my Ladye-mother there Sits lonely in her castle-hall.
1840 C. Dickens Let. ?Jan. (1969) II. 7 I wish I could send you some autographs..but I find..that my lady wife has been bestowing them upon her friends.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud iv. in Maud & Other Poems 16 I bow'd to his lady-sister as she rode by.
1895 C. M. Yonge Long Vac. xxviii. 292 Mr. White, in his joy at possessing his graceful lady wife, had spared no expense.
1915 ‘Bartimeus’ Naval Occasions (new ed.) xxiv. 253 The Bridegroom's Lady Mother kissed the Indiarubber Man because no one else seemed to want to.
1969 Listener 27 Mar. 417/3 We don't think you've laid enough emphasis on the colonel's foresight, courage, and heroic lady wife.
1987 Times 16 June 16/6 ‘Good morning sir—and what a lovely morning it is,’ says the landlord of the Harp and Two Cherubims. ‘Now what can I oblige you and your lady wife with today?’
2001 J. Coe Rotters' Club (2002) xv. 236 A trivial argument with Gladys, my good lady wife, over the correct position to adopt while singing the third verse of the National Anthem.
4. A form of address.
a. In singular. Originally used as a polite form of address to a woman, esp. (in early use) to one of elevated or higher social standing (now chiefly archaic or South African). Also in my lady. In later use also (chiefly North American) in less formal contexts, sometimes with overtones of brusqueness or hostility.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > for woman of rank
my ladyOE
ladyOE
damea1225
ladyshipa1393
madam1543
ladydom?1553
gentlewoman1566
young ladyship1702
milady1778
Sitt1838
OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 19 Oct. 235 þa com hyre deofol to ond hy awehte ond cwæð to hyre, Min hlæfdige, gif ðe wæs gold to lytel oððe seolfor.., ic ðæt sona gebete.
OE St. Mary of Egypt (Julius) (2002) 96 Zosimus hire to cwæð, ‘Eala min hlæfdige, hu mænige gear synt nu þæt þu on þysum westene eardodost?’
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8659 Ga laff-diȝ forþ & dred te nohht.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 33 (MED) Leuedi, al for þine sake longinge is ylent me on.
c1450 (c1400) Sowdon of Babylon (1881) l. 1889 Noe, certes, lady, it is not I.
c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 1536 Graunte vs, lady shene Eche of vs, thy grace a bone.
1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle lxvi. sig. P.iiv Ryght swete lady I haue two chyldren a sone & a doughter of kynges blode.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 258 Pedro Come Lady, come, you haue lost the heart of signior Benedicke. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 12 I can conduct you Ladie to a low But loyall cottage.
1637 J. Milton Comus 10 What chance good Ladie hath bereft you thus?
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth V. 113 Shall you and I Lady, Among the Grass lye down a.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci v. ii. 90 Know you this paper, Lady?
1901 N.E.D. at Lady n. The uneducated, esp. in London, still often use ‘Lady’ in the sing. as a term of address for ‘Madam’ or ‘Ma'am’.
1914 G. B. Shaw Pygmalion (1916) i. 107 The Flower Girl. Thank you kindly, lady.
1924 I. Gershwin (title of song) Lady, be good.
1953 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 Sept. 7 Why, lady, take route 128.
1956 N. Gordimer in Best S. Afr. Short Stories (1991) 221 ‘My God,’ said Mrs Hansen, ‘My God. So she died, eh?’ ‘Yes, lady,’ he held out his hand for her ticket.
1972 ‘P. Ruell’ Red Christmas xiv. 148 ‘Lady,’ he said, ‘you talk sense. Just remember, it's guns that count.’
1989 J. Hobbs Thoughts in Makeshift Mortuary 232 ‘What do you want her for, lady?’ The official voice on the phone sounded deeply suspicious.
1994 Spy (N.Y.) Sept. 93 (caption) ‘Hey Lady!’ bellows pocket-pool hustler Jerry Lewis.
2007 London (Ont.) Free Press (Nexis) 15 July 4 He said, ‘Look lady, you can deal with me or you can deal with the police.’
b. In plural. A polite form of address to a group of women. Cf. usage note at sense 5a. ladies and gentlemen: a formal form of address to a mixed audience or company.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [adjective] > suitable for or used by
ladyc1405
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > for specific people > for men and women > women
ladyc1405
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Merchant's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1106 Ladys I pray yow þt ye be nat wroth.
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. in Euphues (new ed.) f. 116v Come Ladyes, with teares I cal you, looke in this glasse, repent your sinnes past.
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical vi. 67 The Noisy Milk Folks, crying, A can of Milk, Ladies.
1778 H. Brooke Charitable Assoc. i. ii. 212 But, ladies, I have a relishing morceau in reserve for you.
1808 F. Grose Antiq. Rep. II. 405 All public addresses to a mixed assembly of both sexes, till sixty years ago, commenced Gentlemen and Ladies: at present it is Ladies and Gentlemen.
1852 F. Trollope Uncle Walter I. xiii. 213 But now I must wish you good morning, ladies; for I must hasten back to my charge.
1914 G. K. Chesterton Flying Inn 69 Why should you shrink then, ladies, from this great polygamical experiment?
1951 T. Rattigan Who is Sylvia? iii. 267 Good night, ladies. Be good.
1976 Daily Mirror 18 Mar. 9/3 Watch that daily tipple, ladies. You could end up on the bottle.
2001 C. Fowler Devil in Me (2005) 142 Raymond cleared his throat. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention.’
2004 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 24 Apr. 10 When you're addressing a group of women it could be seen as sexist to say ‘Come this way, ladies’, but to replace it with ‘women’ just doesn't trip off the tongue as easily and sounds less elegant in the English language.
5.
a. Originally: a woman of superior rank or standing in society; a woman whose rank or office is indicated by the title ‘Lady’. In later use more generally: a woman.char-, dinner, old, young lady, etc.: see the first element.Originally the female equivalent of lord. Now frequently used as the female counterpart of gentleman and regarded as more polite or genteel than woman; in some contexts, however, this usage may be considered sexist or patronizing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > woman > [noun]
wifeeOE
womaneOE
womanOE
queanOE
brideOE
viragoc1000
to wifeOE
burdc1225
ladyc1225
carlinec1375
stotc1386
marec1387
pigsneyc1390
fellowa1393
piecec1400
femalea1425
goddessa1450
fairc1450
womankindc1450
fellowessa1500
femininea1513
tega1529
sister?1532
minikinc1540
wyec1540
placket1547
pig's eye1553
hen?1555
ware1558
pussy?a1560
jade1560
feme1566
gentlewoman1567
mort1567
pinnacea1568
jug1569
rowen1575
tarleather1575
mumps1576
skirt1578
piga1586
rib?1590
puppy1592
smock1592
maness1594
sloy1596
Madonna1602
moll1604
periwinkle1604
Partlet1607
rib of man1609
womanship?1609
modicum1611
Gypsy1612
petticoata1616
runniona1616
birda1627
lucky1629
she-man1640
her1646
lost rib1647
uptails1671
cow1696
tittup1696
cummer17..
wife1702
she-woman1703
person1704
molly1706
fusby1707
goody1708
riding hood1718
birdie1720
faggot1722
piece of goods1727
woman body1771
she-male1776
biddy1785
bitch1785
covess1789
gin1790
pintail1792
buer1807
femme1814
bibi1816
Judy1819
a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823
wifie1823
craft1829
shickster?1834
heifer1835
mot1837
tit1837
Sitt1838
strap1842
hay-bag1851
bint1855
popsy1855
tart1864
woman's woman1868
to deliver the goods1870
chapess1871
Dona1874
girl1878
ladykind1878
mivvy1881
dudess1883
dudette1883
dudine1883
tid1888
totty1890
tootsy1895
floozy1899
dame1902
jane1906
Tom1906
frail1908
bit of stuff1909
quim1909
babe1911
broad1914
muff1914
manhole1916
number1919
rossie1922
bit1923
man's woman1928
scupper1935
split1935
rye mort1936
totsy1938
leg1939
skinny1941
Richard1950
potato1957
scow1960
wimmin1975
womyn1975
womxn1991
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of > woman of
ladyc1225
ladyheada1393
dame1530
grande dame1775
pig-faced lady1816
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > [noun] > lady
ladyc1225
duchess1393
dame1530
Dona1622
Donna1670
grande dame1775
ladyship1785
señora1818
milady1824
prima donna1834
senhora1841
seigneuress1888
c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) l. 93 (MED) As doð þes cwenes, þes riche cuntasses, þeos modie leafdis of hare liflade.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12334 Alle þa lafdies leoneden ȝeond walles to bihalden þa duȝeðen..plæie.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 3280 Mony was þe vayre leuedi þat icome was þer to.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 215 Þe greate lhordes, and þe greate lheuedyes.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2968 Whan þat loveli ladi hade listened his wordes..for ioye sche wept.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xviii. l. 335 Ylyke a lusarde with a lady visage.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 41 A compaignye of ladyes..clad in clothes blake.
1486 Bk. St. Albans F vj A Beuy of Ladies.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. a*iv Laboryng & seruyng for these two ladyes, Lya & Rachel.
a1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 27 A lord to lufe a silly lass, A leddy als, for luf, to tak Ane propir page.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiv. 243 For Ladies and women to weepe..it is nothing vncomely.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost ii. i. 194 What Ladie is that same? View more context for this quotation
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle iii. sig. G1 To punish all the sad enormities Thou hast committed against Ladies Gent.
1684 J. Dryden Epil. Opening New House in Misc. Poems 289 A Country Lip may have the Velvet touch, Tho' She's no Lady, you may think her such.
1691 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 8) 15 Keep your Wall and Palisade-Trees..shaped like a Ladies Fan.
a1719 J. Addison Dialogues Medals in Wks. (1721) I. i. 438 We find too on Medals the representations of Ladies that have given occasion to whole volumes on the account only of a face.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. ii. xxxiii. 303 This is giving the ladies reason, It is so because it is.
1791 W. Cowper Retirem. 38 Linen..such as merchants introduce From India, for the ladies' use.
1807 Salmagundi 24 Nov. 373 It appears to be an established maxim..that a lady loses her dignity when she condescends to be useful.
1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 103 This lady..has been on the town about fifteen months,..having a good deal of custom in the mercantile way.
1886 D. M. Mulock King Arthur i. 11 Poor lady!.. But if she were a real lady she would never be an opera-singer.
1888 Harper's Mag. Nov. 960/1 She was born, in our familiar phrase, a lady, and..throughout a long life, she was surrounded with perfect ease of circumstance.
1909 E. H. Miles Lessons Lawn Tennis (ed. 3) xv. 79 I do not know why ladies should not beat right-handed men players if the latter were compelled to play left-handed.
1963 S. Plath Bell Jar xix. 239 Irwin had a queer, old-world habit of calling women ladies.
1996 Guardian (Nexis) 23 Apr. 13 Only a few months ago I was reprimanded for addressing a female person as a lady. ‘I am not a lady, I am a woman,’ she replied. My mother would find this quite baffling and so do I.
2006 B. George & L. Hardy Bobby Dazzler xv. 252 Carole Malone is a lovely lady, even though she never takes a breath and can talk for England.
b. A woman having the characteristics traditionally associated with high social standing; a refined or genteel woman. Cf. fine lady n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [noun] > person of refined taste > woman
gentlewoman1628
lady1832
1832 T. Fowler Jrnl. Tour through Brit. Amer. 191 She put on airs, it is true, but they were vulgar airs, such as no real lady would use; and, in short, she was the most rude, rancorous, random hussy that ever I saw attempt to act the lady in my life.
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner xi. 185 She had the essential attributes of a lady—high veracity, delicate honour in her dealings, deference to others, and refined personal habits.
1933 Fresno (Calif.) Bee Republican 22 Nov. 5/2 (heading) Girl who earns own living must be rough and tough to compete with men..: nonsense..—the more of a lady she is the better her chance of success.
1952 J. Lait & L. Mortimer U.S.A. Confidential iii. xxviii. 333 Margaret is a lady, doesn't drink. But some of her artistic friends in New York are not so abstemious.
1985 R. Awad tr. N. Mahfouz Beginning & End (1989) lxx. 306 He watched her gently and quietly sipping the lemonade, too much the true lady to take the drink in noisy, vulgar gulps.
2007 D. Cameron Myth Mars & Venus iii. 53 The contrast between the ladettes and the ladies demonstrates that femininity and masculinity come in more than one variety.
6. A member of a religious community of women; a nun.Now only in the names of religious orders.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > nun > [noun]
nuneOE
sistereOE
minchenOE
nun-sisterOE
spousea1200
ladyc1275
religious1340
clergess1393
homely womana1400
monialc1400
moinesa1513
sanctimoniala1513
vowess1533
nosegent1567
votaress1589
votress1597
monkess1602
White Lady1606
cloistressa1616
sanctimony1630
religiosea1657
clergywoman1673
religieuse1682
religioso1708
vestal1717
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15646 Þider iwende Eli..& nom him þa lafdie [c1300 Otho gode leafdi], þer heo læi on munstre.
c1390 Charter Abbey Holy Ghost (Laud) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 352 (MED) He [sc. Christ] cam & founde a lady of þat abbeye þat is clepid Clennesse.
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 441 (MED) This was the convenaunte I-made..bitwene the religious ladyes..and the couent of the same place..and..Thomas Staunford.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxxix. f. xxii.v [The town] was but easely closed incontynent it was taken by assaut and robbed and an abbey of ladyes vyolated.
1606 R. Chambers tr. P. Numan Miracles lately Wrought xv. 129 The perseuering in this her good purpose became religious in the foresayd conuent of the white Ladies.
1759 in tr. F. de Maintenon Lett. (new ed.) II. xlii. 69 (note) A Lady taken from an old Convent, to form the Ladies of St. Cyr.
1858 Harper's Mag. July 205/1 I obtained permission..to witness the profession of a Nun at the House of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart.
2007 Santa Fe New Mexican (Nexis) 27 Oct. d4 St. Clare co-founded..a parallel women's order called the Order of Poor Ladies, or the Poor Clares, who are known for their contemplative prayer.
7. A wife, a consort. In later use colloquial: a girlfriend.In early use chiefly restricted to instances in which the wife or consort referred to also possessed the formal title of ‘Lady’. N.E.D. (1901) notes ‘In the 18th and the former half of the 19th cent. the wider use was prevalent in polite society, but is now regarded as vulgar, esp. in the phrase your good lady’: see also good adj. 4b.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married woman > [noun] > wife
wifeeOE
womanc1275
peerc1330
spousessc1384
ladyc1390
good lady1502
girl?a1513
spousage1513
little lady1523
the weaker vessel1526
companion1535
wedlock1566
Mrs1572
dame1574
rib?1590
feme1595
fathom1602
feme covert1602
shrew1606
wife of one's bosom1611
kickie-wickiea1616
heifer1616
sposa1624
bosom-partner1633
goodwife1654
little woman1715
squaw1767
the Mrs1821
missus1823
maw1826
lady wife1840
tart1864
mistress1873
mama1916
ball and chain1921
trouble and strife1929
old boot1958
c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 268 (MED) Sire Eustas to þe knihtes told..hou he hedde i lost his ladi And boþe his sones.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 517 Sire, þere sall borne be a barne of þi blithe lady.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cxxxv. 179 A grete lady, whiche was lady to a Baron.
1568 (a1500) Colkelbie Sow ii. l. 122 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 300 [Earl Flannislie] namit it [sc. his territory] eftir him and his lady.
1686 S. Sewall Diary 23 Sept. (1973) I. 122 Govr Bradstreet is gone with his Lady to Salem.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. 255 The lady of a noble Venetian..is indulged with greater freedom in this respect.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey II. 57 The Marquis..supported his lady.
1796 C. Lamb Let. 31 May in Lett. C. & M. A. Lamb (1975) I. 12 It has endeared us more than any thing to your good Lady.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. i. 2 By a former marriage, Mr. Dashwood had one son; by his present lady, three daughters. View more context for this quotation
1841 C. Anderson Anc. Models 101 An organ was lately given by the estimable lady of the Rev. J. B. Stonehouse..to the church of Owston.
1860 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner (1861) vii. 71 ‘How's your health, Colonel Sprowle’. ‘Very well, much obleeged to you. Hope you and your good lady are well’.
1922 Times 4 Aug. 11/3 I had just finished reading to my lady that portion of the book.
1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon xi. 232 Why, look at the old squire and his Lady, when Kirk was a lad.
1969 in Playboy (1970) Jan. 77 His lady is afraid as hell that she can't fulfill her fantasy role as an erotic amazon.
1998 Today's Golfer May 198/3 Mr R. Smith might like to use this in games between himself and his good lady.
2007 Voice 16 Apr. 26/4 He neglected to tell his lady how he'd stabbed both his parents to death and left their bodies in the family home.
8. With reference to a fairy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > fairy or elf > [noun]
elfOE
elvena1100
spiritc1350
fay1393
fairyc1405
mammeta1425
sprite?1440
lady1538
faerie1579
Robin Goodfellow1588
elfin1590
pigwidgeon1594
pygmy1611
fairess1674
peri1739
spriggan1754
fane1806
glendoveer1810
vila1827
Polong1839
Gandharva1846
elle-maid1850
sheogue1852
hillman1882
elvet1885
pishogue1906
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Lamiæ, they be also those, whyche be called ladyes of the fayry, whiche do allure yong men to company carnally with them, & after that they be consumed in the acte of lecherye, they coueyte to deuoure them.
1635 R. Johnson Hist. Tom a Lincolne (1705) i. vii. sig. F4 Celia's little son, which the Ladies in the Fairy-Land called by the name of Fairy Knight.
a1650 K. Arthur's Death 235 in F. J. Furnivall Percy Folio I. 506 He see a barge from the land goe, & hearde Ladyes houle & cry.
1673 J. Milton At Vacation Exercise in Poems (new ed.) 66 At thy birth The Faiery Ladies daunc't upon the hearth.
1717 C. Bullock Woman is Riddle v. 84 The Master of this House is the Devil, he keeps Company with the Lady Fairy.
1891 E. S. Hartland Sci. of Fairy Tales (2005) iv. 68 He distinguished..fish which were real fish from fish which were in reality ‘ladies of the sea’, employed in entangling the nets and playing other tricks upon the seamen.
1923 D. A. Mackenzie Myths China & Japan x. 135 ‘The wonderful Rose Garden’ with its linden Tree of Immortality, the hiding-place of a fairy lady, its dancing nymphs and its dwarfs.
1999 K. Sullivan Interrogation Joan of Arc i. 15 The villagers treated the fairy ladies as a third category of supernatural beings, neither angelic nor demonic.
II. Extended uses.
9.
a. A queen at chess.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > pieces > queen
fersc1369
ladyc1450
queenc1450
dame1574
Amazon1656
c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 72 (MED) Tane she hath my lady welaway, That y am matt.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxii. 478 The duk rycharde..helde in his hande a lady of yvery, wherwyth he wolde have gyven a mate to yonnet.
1797 M. Favet Chess made Easy 9 The constraint upon the lady of chess was displeasing to our forefathers... The lady became the most considerable piece of all the game.
1953 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang (1954) §659/1 Dame, lady, old lady, the queen.
2004 Boston Globe 9 Mar. c8/5 By the 17th move his aggressive queen must run for her life. When the lady retreats, Perl presses an attack against the Black monarch.
b. slang. A queen in cards. find the lady n. = three-card trick n. at three adj. and n. Compounds 3b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > card or cards > [noun] > picture-card > queen
Q1572
queen1575
lady1900
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > sleight-of-hand games > [noun]
thimblerig1825
coddam1830
thimblerigging1839
thimbleriggery1841
three-card trick1887
tip-it1889
shell-game1890
find the lady1918
1900 Dial. Notes 2 44 Lady,..queen at cards.
1918 Better Times Dec. in Wipers Times: Compl. Series (2006) 329/1 They are immersed in a game of ‘Find the Lady’ with two hospitable strangers.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad xviii. 194 If they are travelling to the R.A.F. Pageant ‘the lady’ is disguised as an airman, en route to the Cup Final the photograph of a footballer is pasted over the face of the queen.
1977 Irish Press 29 Sept. 10/5 South..cashed the top hearts hoping the lady would drop.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze viii. 91 He dipped below the counter..and added two more bottles to the originals, shuffling them as if playing find the lady on a street corner.
10. Any of several butterflies; esp. the painted lady, Vanessa cardui. Now only with distinguishing word.painted lady: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Rhopalocera (butterflies) > [noun]
lady1611
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Papiglione, any kind of Ladie or butter-flie.
1720 E. Albin Nat. Hist. Eng. Insects Descr. Pl. lvi The 15th of July came a most Beautiful Butterfly..called the Painted Lady.
1796 E. Donovan Nat. Hist. Brit. Insects V. 83 Orange-Tip Butterfly, or, Wood-Lady.
1846 R. Embleton in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 171 Not a single specimen has been observed of the Peacock, Wood Lady, Wall Brown, or the Dark Green Aglaia.
1861 J. M. Crombie Braemar vii. 79 In the shrubberies about Abergeldie the orange-tip, or lady of the woods,..is occasionally met with.
1939 Sci. Monthly Apr. 312/2 Certain kinds of butterflies, such as the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) readily cross arms of the ocean.
2000 W. Cullina New Eng. Wild Flower Soc. Guide to growing Wildflowers 43/2 Bristly, velvety black caterpillars that turned out to be the larvae of the American Lady butterfly.
11. The set of three grinding teeth that constitute the gastric mill in the stomach sac of a lobster, thought to resemble the outline of a seated female figure; (also) the stomach itself, situated just behind the head and usually removed before the lobster is eaten. Now historical and rare.
ΚΠ
1633 J. Shirley Wittie Faire One iii. i. sig. F1 What Lady? the Lady ith' Lobster.
1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 263 Like the Lady in a Lobster.
1796 J. Adams Diary 28 July (1961) III. 235 To Day at Dinner seeing Lobsters at Table I enquired after the Lady, and Mrs. Brisler rose and went into the Kitchen to her Husband who sent in the little Lady herself in the Cradle in which she resides.
1804 J. Farley London Art Cookery (ed. 10) 47 Take out their bodies, and what is called the lady.
1843 J. Pereira Treat. Food & Diet iii. 139 It is a popular notion that a part of the body of the lobster, called the ‘old lady in her arm-chair’, proves injurious when eaten. This part is the bony teeth of the stomach.
1983 B. Fussell Masters of Amer. Cookery iii. 190 Many also warn against eating ‘the lady in the lobster’, which turns out to be the stomach sac near the head.
12. Nautical slang. More fully lady of the gunroom. A sailor in charge of maintaining the gunroom. Cf. lady's hole n. (b) at Compounds 3b. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > sailors involved in specific duties or activities > [noun] > sailors with duties in other specific areas
lady1711
topman1748
bowsman1776
forecastle-man1804
waister1815
foretopman1816
larboarder1846
bosman1876
upper yardman1886
sternman1894
afterguard1912
1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 43 A Lady's Hole, or Place for the Gunner's small stores, which Stores are looked after by one they call a Lady, who is put in by turns to keep the Gun-room clean.
1837 United Service Mag. Nov. 368 There was an old sailor set apart from more active duty, on purpose to keep the gun-room clean, who was rated ‘Lady of the Gun-room’.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Lady of the Gun-room, a gunner's mate, who takes charge of the after-scuttle, where gunners' stores are kept.
1905 J. Masefield Sea Life Nelson's Time v. 131 There was the lady of the gun-room—an old man, who kept the gun-room clean.
13. Newfoundland. A juvenile or female harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus. Usually in lord and lady (see lord and lady n. at lord n. and int. Phrases 1h).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > unspecified and miscellaneous types of
Roan duck1763
wood-duck1777
Rouen1785
lady1792
stranger1792
Rouen duck1795
tree-duck1824
Labrador duck1834
hareld1841
whio1847
pink-eyed duck1848
penguin duck1850
topknot duck1850
Aylesbury1854
roan1854
pink-eye1861
Peking duck1874
runner1878
bluebill1884
Steller's (eider) (duck)1884
Peking1885
half-bird1893
torrent-duck1899
1792 G. Cartwright Jrnl. I. p. xii Lady, a water-fowl of the duck genus, and the hen of the lord.
1967 Bk. Newfoundland III. 282 Harlequin Duck..Old Lord (a fully mature male); and Lady or Jenny (the female or immature).
14. A small roofing-slate, measuring approximately sixteen inches by eight inches (approx. 40.6 by 20.3 cm). Now chiefly historical.The lady is the smallest size in a system in which different sizes of slate are designated by female titles as, queen, duchess, princess, etc. (see note at queen n. 11d).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > stone or rock > [noun] > building stone > stone of the nature of slate > for roofing > piece of > having definite dimensions
countess1803
lady1803
imperial1813
queen1819
duchess1823
princess1834
size-slate1865
marchioness1878
viscountess1878
bachelor1898
muffity1914
1791 Swinney's Birmingham & Stafford Chron. 21 July To Builders..There is now on Sale..a large Quantity of superfine Carnarvonshire Slates; consisting of Ton Slates, Patent Slates, Countess Slates, Ladies' Slates and Doubles.]
1803 Sporting Mag. 20 109 He had delivered to the defendant eight thousand Countesses and eleven thousand Ladies.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. ii. ii. 501 Ladies are generally about 15 in. long, and about 8 in. wide.
1893 J. Brown Opening Railway to Delabole xxiii We've countess, duchess..doubles, ladies, slabs, and flags.
1932 H. V. Morton In Search of Wales vii. 129 The largest slate is a ‘Queen’, the next size a ‘Duchess’; and so they go on through Debrett until you get the sixteen by eight-inch slate, which is a perfect little ‘Lady’.
1991 D. Hart Building Slates Brit. Isles 5/2 The titles of female nobility are applied to the dimensions of slates; for example, ‘duchesses’, ‘princesses’ and ‘ladies’.
2003 A. Garner Thursbitch (2004) xx. 100 We need two narrow ladies, Father, for close by the chimney.
15. A female hound; cf. lady pack n. at Compounds 2e. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > hound > [noun] > female
brachc1400
brachetc1400
hound-brach1688
lady1834
hound-bitch-
1834 Sporting Mag. Feb. 341 Mr. Nicholl's dog-hounds could do nothing, whilst his ladies never missed their fox.
1861 G. J. Whyte-Melville Market Harborough x. 80 Nineteen couple are they of ladies, with the cleanest of heads and necks.
1910 D. Conyers Two Impostors & Tinker xii. 232 Athgarvin was a certain find, but to-day the ladies worked through,..as if on a stale line.

Phrases

P1.
a.
(a)
lady of the house n. the mistress of a household.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinship group > family > [noun] > family or household > female head
lady of the housec1330
matriarch1606
housemother1822
materfamilias1861
mum1957
lOE St. Giles (Corpus Cambr. 303) (1980) 103 Him andwerde þæs huses hlæfedig Teochrita.]
c1330 Lai le Freine in Smith Coll. Stud. Mod. Langs. (1929) 10 iii. 2 (MED) Þan was þe leuedi of þe hous a proude dame and an envieous.
1577 N. Breton Floorish vpon Fancie sig. Hiiiv He..heard in the next chamber a Page of the Ladyes of the house.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. v. 178 Vio. Are you the Ladie of the house? Ol. If I do not vsurpe my selfe, I am. View more context for this quotation
1755 Ld. Chesterfield in World 20 Nov. 909 The lady of the house..soon peopled the several card-tables.
1816 J. Austen Emma III. xiv. 254 It was with difficulty that she could summon enough of her usual self to be the attentive lady of the house, or even the attentive daughter. View more context for this quotation
1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. ii. 9 The more usual plan is for the lady of the house to have the joint brought to her table, and afterwards carried to the nursery.
1958 R. Genders Pansies, Violas & Violets x. 100 Those who have retired will be able to give the plants their full attention, whilst those who have to go out to work each day may have to entrust the care of the plants to the lady of the house.
2007 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 30 Sept. (Business section) 3 While the Atlanta Braves center fielder settled into a comfy leather seat to watch television..the lady of the house took us on a tour.
(b)
lady of the manor n. the mistress of a feudal manor, the female owner of a manor or estate (also in extended use); cf. lord of the manor at lord n. and int. Phrases 1d.
ΚΠ
1711 Act 9 Anne in London Gaz. No. 4870/1 Any Lord or Lady of a Manor might appoint several Game-keepers.
1884 D. Boucicault Shaughraun i. i. 7 You are not mistress in your own house, much less lady of the manor.
1970 P. Moyes Who saw her Die? xiii. 170 It must make her very happy to play the lady of the manor.
2007 Western Daily Press (Nexis) 15 Sept. 6 Many of the villagers are eager to know who will be the next Lord or Lady of the Manor of Chew Magna.
(c)
† lady of the frying-pan n. (humorous) Obsolete rare a cook.
ΚΠ
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. iii. x. 440 The lady of the fryingpan [Fr. La cuisiniere]..was assisted in her cookery by the coachman.
b.
(a)
lady of honour n. now historical a woman, typically of noble birth, who attends upon a queen or princess; cf. maid of honour n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lord-in-waiting > lady-in-waiting or maid of honour
maiden of honoura1450
gentlewomana1470
lady of presence1530
maid of honourc1595
lady of honour1631
lady-in-waiting1703
duenna1761
dame d'honneur1805
c1500 Quare of Jelusy 492 Every lady of honour..Lesse settith of hyr deth than hyr gud name.
1536 King Henry VIII in J. O. Halliwell Lett. Kings Eng. (1846) I. 352 At the interment [of Katharine of Arragon]..it is requisite to have the presence of a good many ladies of honour.
1631 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 187 The Lady Willoughby..now one of the Ladyes of Honour attendant upon the Queene.
1769 Ann. Reg. 1768 116 The great duchess [of Tuscany], attended by her great mistress, and the ladies of honour.
1897 Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. 12 438 His words in regard to the acting of women gave serious offense to the Queen and her Ladies of Honour.
1936 M. Waldman Biogr. of Family ii. iv. 69 Catherine..produced a charming companion..Mademoiselle de Rouet, one of her ladies of honour from amongst her own seminary of beauties.
2004 Village Voice (N.Y.) (Nexis) 18 May 94 Behind them, in shadow, are a lady of honor and a guard. In the far doorway the queen's chamberlain, Jose Nieto, pauses on the stairs.
(b)
† lady of presence n. Obsolete rare = lady of honour n. at Phrases 1b(a).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lord-in-waiting > lady-in-waiting or maid of honour
maiden of honoura1450
gentlewomana1470
lady of presence1530
maid of honourc1595
lady of honour1631
lady-in-waiting1703
duenna1761
dame d'honneur1805
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 237/1 Lady of presence, damoiselle dhonneur.
(c)
lady of the bedchamber n. British a woman of noble rank who attends to the queen or queen mother.In the royal household a lady of the bedchamber ranks above a woman of the bedchamber.
ΚΠ
1621 M. Wroth Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania ii. 273 Her Gowne made with a wide long sleue to the ground, was of blacke Cloth, a Mantle ouer it of the same, to which was a Traile, carried by two Ladies of her Bed-chamber likewise in cloth.
1795 M. P. Andrews & F. Reynolds Myst. of Castle i. ii. 18 Please to dismiss the Lady of the Bed Chamber—I only speak to principals in office—always mute before underlings.
1826 New Monthly Mag. 16 557 The Duke had obliged the Duchess to receive Lady Denham as one of her ladies of the bedchamber; but just before her appointment was made out, she died.
1929 Jrnl. Compar. Legislation & Internat. Law 3rd Ser. 38 229 The Queen..would agree to change at least a few of her Ladies of the Bedchamber on Peel's recommendation.
2007 Austral. Mag. (Nexis) 28 July 14 Both Diana's grandmothers were members of the royal household: Countess Spencer was Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen Mother, and Ruth, Lady Fermoy, one of her Women of the Bedchamber.
P2.
a.
lady of the lake n. [after Old French la dame del lac (first half of the 13th cent.; French la Dame du Lac (19th cent.)); in the Old French romances, the character was more commonly referred to as just la dame or la damoisele (see damsel n.)] (a) (usually with the and capital initials) (the name of) a supernatural character in Arthurian legend, said to have given King Arthur the sword Excalibur and to have receive it back from Sir Bedivere at Arthur's death; (b) a water nymph; †(c) a prostitute, a kept mistress (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > fairy or elf > [noun] > nature-spirit > inhabiting water
lady of the lake1579
shoupiltin1711
wraith1755
nixie1816
undine1821
nix1833
Jenny Greenteeth1850
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > illicit intimacy > person > a mistress
chevesea700
wifeOE
bed-sister1297
concubine1297
leman1297
file1303
speciala1400
womanc1400
chamberer?a1425
mistress?a1439
cousin1470
doxy?1515
doll1560
pinnacea1568
nobsya1575
lier-by1583
sweetheart1589
she-friend1600
miss1606
underput1607
concupy1609
lig-by1610
factoress1611
leveret1617
night-piece1621
belly-piece1632
dolly1648
lie-bya1656
madamc1660
small girl1671
natural1674
convenient1676
lady of the lake1678
pure1688
tackle1688
sultana1703
kind girl1712
bosom-slave1728
pop1785
chère amie1792
fancy-woman1819
hetaera1820
fancy-piece1821
poplolly1821
secondary wife1847
other woman1855
fancy-girl1892
querida1902
wifelet1983
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 52 'What damoysel is that?' said Arthur. 'That is the Lady of the Lake', seyde Merlion.
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 10 The Lady of the Lake (famous in king Arthurz book) with too Nymphes wayting vpon her, arrayed all in sylks attending her highnes comming.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Apr. 120 They bene all Ladyes of the lake behight [E. K. Gloss, Ladyes of the lake be Nymphes].
1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix iii. i. 119 Thou shalt doo't; that Lady ath Lake is thine Sir Tristram.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts ii. i. sig. D3v Thou shalt dine..With mee, and with a Lady. Marrall. Lady! what Lady? With the Lady of the Lake, or Queene of Fairies?
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 50 The difference Marriage makes 'Twixt Wives, and Ladies of the Lakes.
1758 J. Huckell Avon iii. 69 Round her Urn, with mossy Cov'ring green, Inscrib'd the Lady of the Lake was seen.
1783 J. Hoole tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso I. iii. 71 Here with bewitching looks, and wiles prepar'd, The lady of the lake his heart ensnar'd.
1872 Ld. Tennyson Gareth & Lynette 15 Barefoot..The Lady of the Lake stood: all her dress Wept from her sides as water flowing away.
1953 K. M. Briggs Personnel of Fairyland iii. 160 A good number of the Welsh fairies were water fairies, and there are many stories of these Ladies of the Lake, or Gwraigs, as they are called in Wales.
2007 Santa Fe New Mexican (Nexis) 31 Aug. 58 For most of us, the story of Excalibur begins when King Arthur plucks the sword from a stone or collects it from the Lady of the Lake.
b.
(a)
Lady of Babylon n. derogatory (now historical) (also Scarlet Lady of Babylon) the Roman Catholic Church; the Pope.With reference to the woman arrayed in purple and scarlet colour in Revelation 17:4 (compare scarlet lady n. at scarlet n. and adj. Compounds 2a). Compare whore n. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > person > [noun] > collective
mother churchOE
mother kirkc1430
whore1530
Lady of Rome1574
Western Church1577
west1586
scarlet whore1590
Lady of Babylon1605
red letter1608
scarlet lady1807
scarlet woman1816
Latinism1920
1605 E. Sandys Relation State of Relig. sig. L3v Their not erring and inconsoleable Lord of Rome was no other than that imperious bewitching Ladie of Babylon.
1792 C. Smith Desmond I. vi. 82 In gratifications more worthy the dissolute followers of the meretricious scarlet-clad lady of Babylon, than the mortified disciples of a simple and pure religion.
1807 ‘P. Plymley’ Two Lett. on Catholics ii. 20 I will not dispute with you whether the Pope be or be not the Scarlet Lady of Babylon.
1829 R. Sharp Diary 18 Jan. (1997) 182 They enjoy the Spoils of the old Lady of Babylon and proud they are to wear her cast clothes.
1860 A. Trollope Castle Richmond I. v. 83 The pope, with his lady of Babylon, his college of cardinals [etc.].
1989 R. S. Levine Conspiracy & Romance iii. 107 The evangelical Protestantism of the period..gave new life to the millennial typology portraying the Catholic church as the Scarlet Lady of Babylon.
(b)
Lady of Rome n. [originally after post-classical Latin Romanae urbis domina (1558 in the passage translated in quot. 1574)] derogatory (now historical) the Roman Catholic Church; cf. Lady of Babylon n. at Phrases 2b(a).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > person > [noun] > collective
mother churchOE
mother kirkc1430
whore1530
Lady of Rome1574
Western Church1577
west1586
scarlet whore1590
Lady of Babylon1605
red letter1608
scarlet lady1807
scarlet woman1816
Latinism1920
1574 J. Studley tr. J. Bale Pageant of Popes lx. f. 63 Theodora an impudent harlot and the Lady of Rome [L. Romanæ urbis domina] burning in fleshly lust, was so enflamed..that she did not only request him, but compelle him to satisfie her carnall desire.
1701 J. Toland Art Governing by Parties viii. 148 That the old lady of Rome, with all her wrinkles, shou'd yet have charms able to subdue Great Princes.
1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers (1858) xx. 150 The ordeal through which he had gone, in resisting the blandishments of the lady of Rome.
1968 Hist. Educ. Q. 8 90 A master plan to win Protestant America for the Scarlet Lady of Rome.
P3. euphemistic.
a.
lady of pleasure n. a courtesan, a prostitute.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute > courtesan
plover1304
pamphelet?a1513
nun?1518
courtesan1549
musk cat?1567
stallion?1578
maiden of joy1585
miniard1598
quail1609
guinea-hena1616
light horsea1627
lady of pleasure1652
lorette1865
oiran1871
c1550 Clariodus (1830) i. 829 Baith erle lord [etc.]..Disporting thame with ladyes of plesance.]
1652 Mercurius Democritus No. 32 254 On the back-side of Islington is lately erected a most famous Structure called The Pallace of Pleasure, or Ranters Rectory..that will draw in any Gentleman that weares Spurres or any Lady of Pleasure that weares but Gold-Lace, or any other kind of Mettall about her.
1655 J. Howell 4th Vol. Familiar Lett. vii. 22 He hath no such Cloysters or Houses for Ladies of Plesure.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1667 (1955) III. 493 He had enemies at Court, especialy the boufoones & Ladys of Pl<e>asure.
1708 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais (1737) V. 217 Kept-Wenches, Kind-hearted-Things, Ladies of Pleasure, by what..Names soever dignified.
1804 S. J. Arnold Foul Deeds will Rise ii. ii. 39 The Jew dropt his treasure, A Tailor his measure, A Quaker roll'd over two ladies of pleasure.
1930 F. R. Dulles Old China Trade ii. 16 The gaily decorated flower boats where the mandarins dallied with Chinese ladies of pleasure.
2007 Stratford (Ont.) Beacon Herald (Nexis) 24 Aug. 12 All the guys down at the senior centre chipped in to buy their 95-year-old pal Gus an evening with a ‘lady of pleasure’.
b.
lady of easy virtue n. a sexually promiscuous woman, a prostitute.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > sexual indulgence > unchaste behaviour of woman > unchaste or loose woman
queanOE
whorec1175
malkinc1275
wenchelc1300
ribalda1350
strumpeta1350
wench1362
filtha1375
parnelc1390
sinner14..
callet1415
slut?c1425
tickle-tailc1430
harlot?a1475
mignote1489
kittock?a1500
mulea1513
trulla1516
trully?1515
danta1529
miswoman1528
stewed whore1532
Tib1533
unchaghe1534
flag1535
Katy1535
jillet1541
yaud1545
housewife1546
trinkletc1550
whippet1550
Canace1551
filthy1553
Jezebel1558
kittyc1560
loonc1560
laced mutton1563
nymph1563
limmer1566
tomboy1566
Marian1567
mort1567
cockatrice1568
franion1571
blowze1573
rannell1573
rig1575
Kita1577
poplet1577
light-skirts1578
pucelle1578
harlotry1584
light o' lovea1586
driggle-draggle1588
wagtail1592
tub-tail1595
flirt-gill1597
minx1598
hilding1599
short-heels1599
bona-roba1600
flirt1600
Hiren1600
light-heels1602
roba1602
baggage1603
cousin1604
fricatrice1607
rumbelow1611
amorosa1615
jaya1616
open-taila1618
succubus1622
snaphancea1625
flap1631
buttered bun1638
puffkin1639
vizard1652
fallen woman1659
tomrigg1662
cunt1663
quaedama1670
jilt1672
crack1677
grass-girl1691
sporting girl1694
sportswoman1705
mobbed hood1707
brim1736
trollop1742
trub1746
demi-rep1749
gillyflower1757
lady of easy virtue1766
mot1773
chicken1782
gammerstang1788
buer1807
scarlet woman1816
blowen1819
fie-fie1820
shickster?1834
streel1842
charver1846
trolly1854
bad girl1855
amateur1862
anonyma1862
demi-virgin1864
pickup1871
chippy1885
wish-wife1886
tart1887
tartleta1890
flossy1893
fly girl1893
demi-mondaine1894
floozy1899
slattern1899
scrub1900
demi-vierge1908
cake1909
coozie1912
muff1914
tarty1918
yes-girl1920
radge1923
bike1945
puta1948
messer1951
cooze1955
jamette1965
skeezer1986
slutbag1987
chickenhead1988
ho1988
1766 Gentleman's Mag. May 231/2 Players, ladies of easy virtue, thoughtless rural squires.
1812 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (ed. 2) II. v. i. 9 The great city..seemed like some fair lady of easy virtue, to lay open to attack, and ready to yield to the first invader.
1881 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 367 We have..ladies of easy virtue becoming suddenly patterns of the highest morality under the influence of love.
1936 Amer. Home Feb. 42/2 Cinnamon... This spice was very popular with the Biblical ladies of easy virtue. They used it, in combination with aloes and myrrh to scent their bodies and burn outside their houses.
1989 T. M. Albert Tales Ulster Detective 25 It was fair to say that the young McNinch, when he came to Belfast, knew little or nothing in the ways of ladies of easy virtue.
c.
lady of the evening n. North American a prostitute (cf. lady of the night n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1924 M. H. Gropper (title) Ladies of the evening.
1927 R. Wright Hawkers & Walkers in Early Amer. xiv. 218 Early New York City used to sentence her ladies of the evening to the stocks, or banish them.
2007 Edmonton (Alberta) Jrnl. (Nexis) 6 Nov. a19 If these dedicated family men feel it's OK to frequent ladies of the evening, then they shouldn't worry about the reaction of their mates and offspring.
P4.
lady in the case n. used to indicate that a woman is the cause of a situation or the key to solving a problem; cf. cherchez la femme phr.
ΚΠ
1671 T. Shadwell Humorists iii. 32 Nay, if there be a Lady in the Case I submit.
1727 J. Gay Fables I. l. 172 And when a lady's in the case, You know, all other things give place.
1821 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto V xix. 144 ‘Ay,’ quoth his friend, ‘I thought it would appear That there had been a lady in the case.’
1863 A. Trollope Rachel Ray I. xiii. 260 Luke, is there no young lady in the case?
1909 W. S. Gilbert Fallen Fairies ii. 37 In all the woes that curse our race There is a lady in the case.
1961 Jrnl. Warburg & Courtauld Inst. 24 119 The dark figure behind the monk on the left, conceivably the lady in the case.
1999 Birmingham Post (Nexis) 15 June 15 There is a fine quality in all these sequences underpinned by superb playing from Rosemary Leach as the lady in the case.
P5.
Lady with the Lamp n. (also Lady of the Lamp; also with lower-case initials) (a name given to) Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), the hospital reformer and founder of modern nursing; also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > healer > nurse > [noun] > Florence Nightingale
Lady with the Lamp1860
1857 H. W. Longfellow Santa Filomena in Atlantic Monthly Nov. 23 A lady with a lamp shall stand In the great history of the land, A noble type of good, Heroic womanhood.]
1860 G. A. Sala Lady Chesterfield's Lett. viii. 133 If he recovered he would have been one of those who..would rise in his bed as the Lady with the Lamp glided from ward to ward, to kiss her shadow.
1898 Cornhill Mag. Dec. 721 (heading) The Lady with the Lamp.
1911 D. A. Reid Mem. Crimean War vi. 44 We now find that Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service is an integral part of the British Army... What better monument could be erected to the ‘Lady of the Lamp’.
1969 Listener 10 Apr. 482/3 Not for nothing has the indefatigable Miss Jennie Lee earned for herself a Lady-with-the-Lamp reputation as Minister for the Arts.
2001 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 16 Dec. 16 The lady with the lamp has dominated the story, especially in the public mind.
P6. lady of leisure: see leisure n. 5f.
P7.
ladies who lunch n. (also occasionally in singular as lady who lunches) originally U.S. (freq. depreciative) affluent women of leisure, pursuing a life of cultural diversions and social events, esp. lunches in expensive restaurants.
ΚΠ
1970 S. Sondheim Ladies who Lunch (song) in G. Furth & S. Sondheim Company ii. iv. 106 Here's to the ladies who lunch—Everybody laugh. Lounging in their caftans and planning a brunch On their own behalf.
1985 Variety 21 Aug. 18/5 Most of his conquests are ladies who lunch with little redeeming social or intellectual value.
1990 New Yorker 31 Dec. 86/2 The title character..is a pampered Upper East Side lady-who-lunches.
2001 Guardian 13 July ii. 9/3 As if Notting Hill's ladies who lunch were not already spoilt for choice when it comes to exclusive shopping experiences.

Compounds

C1.
a. General attributive.
(a) With the sense ‘characteristic of or befitting a lady’.
lady air n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > pretension to superiority > [noun]
pensifulnessc1450
affectation1548
affection1570
affectedness1622
lady aira1637
fastuousness1649
gentility1650
fastuosity1656
vapouring1656
flatulency1662
hoity-toity1668
pretendingness1701
with an air1701
pretension1706
flatulence1711
uppishness1716
high and mightiness1771
pensieness1825
fine-gentlemanism1831
pretentiousness1838
ambitiousness1845
stuckupishness1853
pretensiveness1859
notion1866
side1870
dog1871
hoity-toityism1881
superiority complex1921
snootiness1932
uppitiness1935
snottiness1973
snoot1984
swag2002
a1637 B. Jonson Under-woods lxxxiv. ix. 164 in Wks. (1640) III She had a mind as calme, as she was faire; Not tost or troubled with light Lady-aire.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xv. 66 What, I say, had I to do, to take upon me Lady-Airs, and resent?
1867 Ladies' Repository Sept. 546/2 She thinks that a girl that works out is nobody; so she puts on her finery and lady airs to prove the contrary.
1932 R. Macauley Shadow Flies ii. 181 In Cambridge a sedater, more lady air was apt; unless she was careful, she would discredit her brother Giles, and be considered a romp.
lady-look n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun] > appearance of good breeding
gentlewomanliness1808
lady-look1824
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 5 I have never seen any one in her station who possessed so thoroughly that undefinable charm, the lady-look.
1973 Morgantown (W. Virginia) Post 23 Feb. 5-A (advt.) Beach feelings begin with the lady-look of Catalina's Pebble Floral two piece boyleg and matching button-front jacket.
lady-slang n.
ΚΠ
1821 ‘P. Atall’ (title) The Hermit in Philadelphia, Second Series, containing some Account of Young Belles and Coquettes..Dandy-Slang and Lady-Slang.
lady-trifle n.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) v. ii. 161 I some Lady trifles haue reseru'd, Immoment toyes. View more context for this quotation
1861 S. Brooks Silver Cord (ed. 2) II. xvii. 184 He sat down to write, bestowing contemptuous imprecations on the gaily bedizened blotting case, and the lady-trifles around it.
1997 Papers Lang. & Lit. 33 244 A lady-trifle displayed well is no trifle in the eye of the beholder.
(b) With the sense ‘consisting of ladies’.
lady portion n.
ΚΠ
1843 Dublin Univ. Mag. Jan. 15 Indeed a less practised observer than himself could not fail to remark the unequivocal evidences the lady portion of the community bore to his success.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 165 The lady portion of the guests.
2006 Gawker (Nexis) 20 Dec. Is Ben Stiller's new gray hairdo a bid for gravitas..? The lady portion of Best Week Ever seems to think it's an improvement over whatever his hair looked like before.
lady train n.
ΚΠ
1717 E. Fenton tr. Homer Odyssey xi, in Poems 111 The Lady-Train dispers'd, the pensive Form Of Agamemnon came.
1846 H. Morford Rest of Don Juan ii. lii. 13 Our lady train could hardly be the last, When ‘faster and yet faster’ was the word.
lady world n.
ΚΠ
1775 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 108 Being herself a performer of reputation in the lady world, she [sc. Lady Edgecumbe] was able to..judge the merit of the performers.
1862 R. S. Burn Lessons of my Farm xii. 277 It is, I guess, in the poultry as it is in the lady world, the finest-looking is not always the best.
b. Similative and parasynthetic.
lady-clad adj.
ΚΠ
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess Prol. 6 But while they talk'd, above their heads I saw The feudal warrior lady-clad.
lady-faced adj.
ΚΠ
c1610 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1827) 120 He wes very lusty, berdles, and lady facit.
1835 Analyst July 388 Look over this lady-faced puppy, and let him have taste of the cat in anticipation.
1900 M. Hewlett New Canterbury Tales 5 Percival Perceforest..was a lady-faced youth with a long nose, a sharp chin, and hot green eyes.
1969 W. H. Gass in N.Y. Rev. Bks. 20 Nov. 10 Even those lady-faced vultures, the harpies, cannot frighten us.
lady-handed adj.
ΚΠ
1655 R. Fanshawe tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad v. lxxxii. 112 We had no circumspect Physitian try'de: No Lady-handed Surgeon [Port. cirurgião subtil] was there found.
1724 A. Ramsay Health 26 The Lady-handed Lad.
1876 ‘V. Fane’ Queen of Fairies 80 I have a curate, he is fair and slight, And lady-handed, with a tenor voice, Most limp and inoffensive in his ways. He has not hair enough upon his chin.
lady-looking adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > having appearance of good breeding
gentrice1568
genteel1629
gentee1664
lady-looking1843
1843 A. Bethune Sc. Peasant's Fire-side 165 A lady looking dame—A visiter at the Big House—To speer for me she came.
1849 J. G. Whittier Leaves from Margaret Smith's Jrnl. in Prose Wks. (1889) I. 11 His daughter, Rebecca, is just about my age, very tall and lady-looking.
1942 K. MacGlashan Horseless Buggy vii. 60 And very lady-looking garments they turned out to be, with all the fringe hanging from the pockets of the pinafore.
lady-soft adj.
ΚΠ
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 16 This Cauezan I haue seene very good hors-men vse, but with such a temperate and Lady-soft a hand, that [etc.].
1857 J. Brougham Humorous Stories 102 My hand would bear no comparison with yours; 'tis labor-hardened, while yours is lady-soft.
c. Instrumental.
lady-laden adj.
ΚΠ
a1854 J. Wilson Ess. Crit. & Imaginative (1856) II. 5 In two Divisions,—with..her train of barges between, lady-laden, and moving in music,—the Grand Fleet is standing on.
1870 Ld. Tennyson Holy Grail 54 Where the long Rich galleries, lady-laden, weigh'd the necks Of dragons clinging to the crazy walls.
1973 D. Smith Mean Rufus l. 24 A fist of jellyfish slipped in the bulging net of his proud crotch that pinched as Pit came roaring by the lady laden dock.
2005 Loaded July 139/2 A redoutable energy drink that will keep you nicely focused, alert and ready for all sorts of lady-laden opportunities.
d. Appositive.
(a) Designating a female animal. Frequently humorous.
ΚΠ
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xii. 581 An angry Waspe th'one in a viall had Th'other in hers an hony-lady Bee.]
1609 C. Butler Feminine Monarchie v. sig. F2 After the second swarm I haue heard a yong Lady-bee call.
1649 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Epodes, Odes, Sonnets, Songs 149 A rev'rend Lady Cow drawes neare.
1792 ‘P. Pindar’ Odes of Importance 63 It is a sin indeed and shame My Lady Lioness should do the same.
1820 P. B. Shelley Œdipus Tyrannus ii. 35 Gentlemen swine, and gentle lady-pigs.
1832 W. Irving Alhambra II. 33 The very beetle woos its lady-beetle in the dust.
1887 G. R. Sims Mary Jane's Mem. 37 The dog..had five beautiful puppies afterwards, it being a lady-dog.
1894 G. R. O'Reilly in Pop. Sci. Monthly Nov. 77 One..night an old lady cobra surprised me by depositing a number of living young ones.
1950 J. Cannan Murder Included iii. 58 The lady-dog jumped out of her basket.
2007 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 10 Aug. 2 The vet gave my bull some pink medicine to give him more stamina with the lady cows.
(b) Prefixed to designations of persons or employment, esp. those traditionally applied to men, to indicate that the person referred to is a woman, as lady actor, lady critic, lady doctor, lady farmer, lady novelist, lady president, lady reader, lady tyrant, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > healer > physician > [noun] > female
woman physician1533
doctress1577
doctrix1604
doctoress1641
physicianess1662
lady doctor1684
society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > narrative or story > novel > [noun] > novelist
novelist1633
lady novelist1684
novel-writer1728
novel-wright1779
fictionist1829
novel-puffer1841
noveller1859
novel-spinner1862
novel-maker1863
1684 T. Otway Atheist ii. 12 The Lady-Tyrant of your Enchanted Castle.
a1687 E. Waller Wks. (1729) 222 Prologue for the Lady-Actors.
1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer Epil. 80 The Lady Criticks, who are better Read, Enquire if Characters are nicely bred.
1775 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1990) II. 176 She has a fine voice... How many voices would you silence at this rate! & how few lady singers would you leave.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 9 Instead of hunting for..a wealthy widow, or a rich lady citizen, he retired to his country seat.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 197 A good sort of lady-farmer.
1827 G. Darley Sylvia 110 Or any lady-page that soothes A steed whose neck she hardly smoothes.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxix. 315 If our observant lady readers can deduce any satisfactory inferences from these facts, we beg them by all means to do so.
1848 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 186 Miss Martineau is lady-president of the gossip school.
1858 English Woman's Jrnl. 1 90 As she went through the streets,..rude cries of ‘Come on, Bill! let's have a good look at the lady-doctor!’ would meet her ears.
1861 G. H. Kingsley in F. Galton Vacation Tourists & Trav. 1860 137 These hinds..are the lady-superintendents of an educational institution for young stags.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 333 The first lady-guest ever seen at Rainbar.
1894 Daily News 28 Mar. 3/2 To the lady clerks is allotted half the ledger keeping.
1913 I. Gurney Let. 31 Aug. (1991) 8 I have actually condescended to read a lady-novelist.
1961 Listener 30 Mar. 574/3 If ‘women novelists’ are to become ‘lady novelists’ as a matter of course, I give notice..that in future, when reviewing the novels of male writers of fiction, I shall make a point of referring to these writers as ‘gentlemen novelists’.
1975 ‘C. Aird’ Slight Mourning vi. 58 The lady doctor had arrived.
2003 Evening Herald (Plymouth) (Nexis) 24 Nov. 8 Lady brain surgeons are indeed rare and their contributions to neurosurgery are to be welcomed.
(c) Prefixed to job titles (esp. those of servants) to indicate that the holder of the position is a woman of refined or elevated social standing, as lady companion, lady nurse, etc. Cf. lady help n. at Compounds 2e.
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1811 L.-M. Hawkins Countess & Gertrude I. vi. 94 Some lady-nurses..forego not an hour's amusement.
1873 St. Paul's Mag. ii. 233 He, a dignified ecclesiastic butler, with a perfect palate for port, to be levelled with a pert little chit of a ‘lady-housekeeper’.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 11 July 2/3 (advt.) Lady-Cook, also Lady-Parlourmaid wanted..lady-nurse and man kept.
1929 D. H. Lawrence Pansies 139 You only look so distinguished and superior, when really you are slightly inferior, like a shop-lady or a lady-secretary.
1934 Times 9 Jan. 3/5 (advt.) Mrs. Reeves' Agency..can supply qualified Governesses,..Lady Nurses, College-trained Nurses,..Lady Helps..for large and small establishments.
1974 W. Foley Child in Forest ii. 224 There were..lady-cooks, who..spoke with upper-crust accents.
1995 Jrnl. Soc. Hist. 29 362 Lady companions and governesses could when they aged often only find new jobs as housekeepers.
C2. Compounds with lady.Compounds in which lady is a simple unmarked genitive may also be found with the marked genitive form lady's: see Compounds 3.
a. With reference to the Virgin Mary (with varying capitalization). Cf. Our Lady n. Compounds 1.
Lady Altar n. an altar in a Lady chapel.
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society > faith > artefacts > division of building (general) > altar > [noun] > in Lady chapel
Lady Altar1508
1508 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1869) IV. 335 Item it is my last will a prest shall syng at Sanct Elyn kyrk in Stanegat a yere at the Lady awter, whar he lyes, for Mr. Wynder saull and his son in lay.
1727 B. Willis Surv. Cathedrals II. 578 In his Will dated..1547..he appointed to be buried in this Cathedral on the North Side the Lady Altar.
1898 Weekly Reg. 16 July 68 Mrs. Franks..presented a carved oak lady-altar in memory of her late father.
1999 Y. Klein tr. D. Baillargeon Making Do iii. 59 Three belonged to the Children of Mary, which furnished the young bride with a veil in addition to organ music and a special service at the Lady Altar.
Lady bell n. a bell rung at the times for the angelus; = Angelus bell n. at Angelus n. Compounds; cf. Our Lady bell n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 1.
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society > faith > worship > canonical hours > other services > angelus > [noun] > bell indicating
Our Lady's bella1422
Our Lady bella1449
pardon bell1538
Lady bell1633
Angelus1737
Angelus bell1786
1633–4 in Trans. Shropshire Archaeol. & Hist. Soc. (1892) 4 128 It. payde Wm Woodall for takinge up the Lady bell and settling yt againe ijs.
1755 W. Gilpin in Life H. Latimer iii. 159 He would..procure for them the lady-bell at Bampton, which would make Christ-church bells the sweetest of any in England.
1872 H. T. Ellacombe Bells of Church viii, in Church Bells Devon 395 Six other bells from the rood tower, called the Lady Bells.
1989 R. Whiting Blind Devotion of People (1991) iv. 71 It is possible..that the ‘Lady’ bells, traditionally rung at the hours when Aves were to be said, were deliberately defaced in Edward's reign.
Lady Church n. a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary; = Our Lady church n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 1.
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1658 Mercurius Politicus No. 415. 513 The King of Hungary frequenteth twice a day the Lady Church, on foot, both going and comming.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials III. xxxviii. 302 They agreed to meet one Day at Norham Church in England, and another Day at the Lady Church in Scotland.
1854 R. W. MacGavock Tennessean Abroad lxviii. 389 Close to the tower is the finest church in the city, called the Magdalene or Lady Church.
2000 P. Crossley in New Cambr. Medieval Hist. VI. xi. 256 Both domes sheltered high altars of their city's patroness, the Virgin, and both evoked the archetype of all Lady churches, the Roman Pantheon, dedicated as S. Maria Rotunda.
† Lady Eve n. Obsolete rare the day before a Lady day.
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Eve of Lady Day (24 March) > [noun]
Our Lady evena1350
Our Lady's evec1400
Our Lady's evena1438
Lady Eve1593
Our Lady eve1603
1593 in J. Williams Rights of Common (1880) vii. 88 (modernized text) The custom is, that if any of the inhabitants of Aston and Coat aforesaid do fail to appear upon any Lady-eve,..the parties making default to forfeit and pay fourpence.
1603 T. Dekker 1603: Wonderfull Yeare sig. B4 She [sc. Elizabeth I] was borne vpon a Lady Eue, and died vpon a Lady Eue.
1658 R. Flecknoe Enigmaticall Characters 50 I could wish my soul with hers, at any time, but not my Body..especially on Lady Eves and other dayes of devotion.
Lady fast n. rare (now historical) a fast undertaken in honour of the Virgin Mary; = Our Lady fast n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 1.
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a1540 R. Barnes Charge in Newcastle Tracts (1850) VI. 16 That no..superfluous faste be vsed as those called the Lady fast saint trinyons fast, the black faste.
1882 Antiquary 5 216 It [sc. the sexton's wheel] was for the purpose of ascertaining from which of the six days devoted to Lady Fasts a devotee should begin his fast.
1992 E. Duffy Stripping of Altars i. 41 A custom like the Lady fast, in which the devotee noted which day of the week Lady Day in Lent..fell on, and observed that day throughout the year as a fast in honour of the Virgin.
Ladymeat n. historical and rare in later use alms consisting of food given in honour of the Virgin Mary.
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society > society and the community > social attitudes > philanthropy > [noun] > charitableness or alms-giving > that which is given in charity > in honour of Virgin Mary
Ladymeat1535
lady's loaf1875
1535 Valor Ecclesiasticus (1825) V. 93/2 Elemosina..dat' & distribut' pauperibus indigent' voc' Ladymete..in festo Nativitatis Beate Marie Virginis.
1849 D. Rock Church of our Fathers III. ix. 284 Many an alms was given for Mary's sake, and the food, so set aside, went by the name of ‘Lady-meat’.
1879 E. Waterton Pietas Mariana 115 Bread and meat given in our Ladye's love were called Saint Marye's loaf, and Ladymeat.
Lady psalter n. see psalter n. 3.
Lady Quarter n. now rare the quarter that begins with Lady day (25th March); cf. quarter n. 2b.
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Annunciation (25 March) > [noun] > quarter containing
Lady Quarter1623
Ladytide1778
1623 T. Hutton in J. Raine Corr. Dr. Matthew Hutton clvi. 238 (heading) Lady Quarter.
1691 Let. 15 May in R. D. Merriman Sergison Papers (1950) (modernized text) iii. 63 Debts were so far in arrear, and that small part thereof for stores to Lady Quarter, 1686 remained unpaid.
?1799 1797: 3 May: By Order in Council Pay to be Increased 25 (table) January..March..Lady Quarter.
1803 in Naval Chron. 15 217 The men working in Lady Quarter, 1802.
1844 Edinb. Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 61 386 (table) Lady Quarter. Midsum. Quar. Michael Quar. Christmas Quar.
Ladytide n. now historical the period around Lady day (25th March); (also) Lady day.
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society > faith > worship > liturgical year > feast, festival > specific Christian festivals > Annunciation (25 March) > [noun] > quarter containing
Lady Quarter1623
Ladytide1778
1778 Farmer's Mag. Feb. 67 The growth of the Tares and Rye was very luxuriant, and mown at New Lady-Tide.
1790 E. Halsted Hist. & Topogr. Kent (1797) II. 364 The presentation of the vicarage, at the yearly rent of 13l. 6s. 8d. and three bushels of wheat, at Ladytide, to the poor of Sutton and Wilmington.
1894 Athenæum 17 Mar. 341/1 The practice of sending sheep to be kept in the Weald districts from Michaelmas to Ladytide is not wholly abandoned.
1999 B. J. Ward Contempl. upon Flowers (2000) 260 [Marigolds] have been employed to decorate churches for Ladytide on 25 March, the feast day in honor of the annunciation of the Virgin.
† Lady worshipper n. Obsolete rare a person who worships the Virgin Mary.
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society > faith > worship > kinds of worship > [noun] > of virgin > Mary > practitioner of
Lady worshipper1579
Marian1635
marianolatrist1736
Mariolater1861
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 893/2 If God do make men that haue some deuotion, whiche are Ladie worshippers [etc.].
b. In names of animals.
ladybeetle n. [compare earlier ladybird n. 3, ladybug n., ladycow n.] (chiefly U.S.) = ladybird n. 3 (cf. ladybug n.).
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > member of (beetle) > female
ladybeetle1766
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Coccinellidae > member of (lady-bird)
ladycow1583
golden knop1592
cow-lady1656
ladybird1673
lady-clock1682
lady fly1714
ladybeetle1766
ladybug1787
bishy barnabee1789
coccinella1815
soldier1848
Judycow1855
bishop1875
coccinellid1887
1766 M. Harris Aurelian 46 The common lady beetle.
1891 C. M. Weed Insects & Insecticides 9 Predacious insects are those which attack other insects from the outside... The handsome little lady-beetles..furnish good examples of this class.
1972 L. A. Swan & C. S. Papp Common Insects N. Amer. xx. 403 The lady beetles or coccinellids are easily distinguished by their shape, and the three-segmented tarsi.
2007 Biol. Control 41 26/2 Offering ladybeetles prey mixtures while limiting prey quantity eliminated the potential confounding effects of prey preference.
lady-clock n. [apparently < lady n. + clock n.3; compare earlier ladybird n. 3; neither the immediate source of quot. 1682, a Latin translation of Goedaert's work, nor the original Dutch work appear to show a corresponding word] English regional (northern) = ladybird n. 3.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Coccinellidae > member of (lady-bird)
ladycow1583
golden knop1592
cow-lady1656
ladybird1673
lady-clock1682
lady fly1714
ladybeetle1766
ladybug1787
bishy barnabee1789
coccinella1815
soldier1848
Judycow1855
bishop1875
coccinellid1887
1682 tr. J. Goedaert Of Insects 108 These Animalls for the Elegancy of them, are called Lady-clocks.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. viii. 203 That was only a lady-clock, child, ‘flying away home’.
1896 Notes & Queries 4 Jan. 14/2 ‘Landlady’, as a name for the..ladybird, is unfamiliar to me; but I read that in Yorkshire they are called ‘lady clocks’.
1983 J. Wheatcroft Catherine 157 Edgar stood staring at me..bug-eyed as a lady-clock.
lady crab n. any of various crabs noted for their elegant form or attractive colouring; esp. Ovalipes ocellatus, a North American swimming crab.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Crustacea > [noun] > subclass Malacostraca > division Thoracostraca > order Decapoda > suborder Brachyura (crab) > miscellaneous or unspecified types of crab
sea lion1601
blue crab1763
violet crab1774
angular crab1777
red crab1825
softshell1830
turtle-crab1838
porcellanian1840
Thelphusian1842
lady crab1844
oxystome1852
lobster-crab1854
porcelain crab1854
ochidore1855
havil1857
mask crab1857
sepoy crab1857
violet land crab1864
frog crab1876
stool-crab1880
paper-shell1890
porter crab1904
mitten crab1934
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Crustacea > [noun] > subclass Malacostraca > division Thoracostraca > order Decapoda > suborder Brachyura (crab) > member of Portunidae (lady-crab)
velvet crab1681
green crab1763
lady crab1844
sand crab1844
shore-crab1850
devil crab1871
partan1880
velvet fiddler crab1882
shuttle-crab1889
sook1950
muddy1953
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Crustacea > [noun] > subclass Malacostraca > division Thoracostraca > order Decapoda > suborder Brachyura (crab) > member of Ocypodidae (fiddler-crab and sand crab)
fiddler1714
calling crab1832
lady crab1844
sand crab1844
sand fiddler1852
fighting crab1868
1844 J. E. DeKay Zool. N.Y. vi. 10 It [sc. Ovalipes ocellatus] is often designated as the Lady Crab, from the beauty of the colors.
1882 Cassell's Nat. Hist. VI. 200 The Velvet Fiddler Crab..in the Channel Islands is known as the Lady Crab, from its velvet coat.
1993 Copeia No. 4. 1178/2 To a lesser extent the lady crab Ovalipes ocellatus was consumed by both species [of turtle].
† lady fluke n. Obsolete rare the Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus.
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1836 W. Yarrell Hist. Brit. Fishes II. 323 Lady fluke. The Holibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris.
1878 T. Cornish in Couch's Cornish Fauna (ed. 2) i. 47 Lady fluke. This largest of the British flat fish, which not rarely runs to 8 cwt, is of frequent occurrence off our coasts.
lady fly n. now rare = ladybird n. 3.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Diversicornia > family Coccinellidae > member of (lady-bird)
ladycow1583
golden knop1592
cow-lady1656
ladybird1673
lady-clock1682
lady fly1714
ladybeetle1766
ladybug1787
bishy barnabee1789
coccinella1815
soldier1848
Judycow1855
bishop1875
coccinellid1887
1714 J. Gay Shepherd's Week iv. 83 This Lady-fly I take from off the grass.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 209 Lady-fly with freckled wings, Watch her up the tall bent climb.
1863 W. K. Kelly Curiosities Indo-European Trad. iii. 94 In England, Lady bird, lady fly, lady cow—names pointing originally to Freyja, but subsequently to the Virgin.
1996 A. V. Evans & C. L. Bellamy Inordinate Fondness for Beetles v. 138 In England, they are variously known as ladybirds, ladybugs, lady flies, and May cats.
† lady fowl n. Irish English Obsolete any of several wild ducks; esp. the wigeon, Anas penelope, and the pintail, A. acuta (cf. ladybird n. 4).
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1772 J. Rutty Ess. Nat. Hist. Dublin I. 335 The Lady-Fowl..is much esteemed in the London market..the Male being distinguished by the name of Easterling, and the female strictly called the Lady-fowl.
1851 W. Thompson Nat. Hist. Ireland III. 92 The pintail is often called ‘lady-fowl’ in Dublin and the south of Ireland.
1893 A. Newton Dict. Birds Lady-fowl, said to be a name of the Wigeon.
c. In names of plants.
lady bracken n. chiefly Scottish (now rare) (a) common bracken, Pteridium aquilinum; †(b) lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina (obsolete).
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the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > fern or bracken
ferna800
brakec1325
brackenc1400
brack1482
bracken-bush1483
pteris1601
fern-brake1611
filix1731
lady bracken1820
pteridoid1866
pteridophyte1880
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 278/1 Having removed the heather and decayed leafs of lady-bracken which covered the inscription.
1862 W. Wood East Neuk of Fife App. 364 Ferns... Lady Bracken (A. Filix femina..).
1863 A. D. T. Whitney Faith Gartney's Girlhood xiv. 123 Graceful birches..leaned over the road toward the water; and close down to its ripples grew..lush grass, and lady bracken.
1883 H. Friend Flowers & Flower Lore I. 98 In Scotland, we find one kind of fern called Lady-bracken.
1946 E. Step Wayside & Woodland Ferns (ed. 2) 36 Other folk-names [for Pteridium aquilinum] are Adder-spit.., Lady Bracken (Dumfries and Roxburgh).., and Common Fern.
lady fern n. [compare post-classical Latin filix femina (1527 or earlier in a translation of Dioscorides as filix foemina), classical Latin filix nymphaea, thēlypteris (both in Pliny), Hellenistic Greek θηλυπτερίς (Theophrastus, Dioscorides), all taken to denote the common bracken] any of various tall, graceful ferns; spec. any fern of the genus Athyrium, occurring worldwide in moist shady habitats, esp. A. filix-femina, which is often cultivated for its delicate lacy foliage.
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the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > other ferns
mountain parsley1578
female fern1597
rock parsley1597
spleenwort1597
marsh fern1686
prickly fern1764
parsley fern1777
sensitive fern1780
lady fern1783
stone-brake1796
mountain fern1800
rock brake1802
walking leaf1811
todea1813
shield-fern1814
Woodsia1815
mangemange1817
cinnamon fern1818
climbing fern1818
bladder-fern1828
king fern1829
filmy fern1830
ostrich fern1833
New York fern1843
mokimoki1844
rhizocarp1852
film-fern1855
nardoo1860
gymnogram1861
holly-fern1861
limestone-polypody1861
elk-horn1865
Gleichenia1865
lizard's herb1866
cliff brake1867
kidney fern1867
Christmas fern1873
Prince of Wales feathers1873
Christmas shield fern1878
buckler-fern1882
crape-fern1882
stag-horn1882
ladder fern1884
oleander fern1884
stag fern1884
resam1889
lip-fern1890
coral-fern1898
bamboo fern1930
pteroid1949
fern-gale-
1783 tr. C. Linnaeus Syst. Veg. II. 803 Thelypteris... Lady-Fern.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies i. 13 The great tuft of lady ferns.
1919 Amer. Fern Jrnl. 9 86 There are two species..of Lady Ferns in the eastern half of the United States, neither of which is identical with Athyrium filix-foemina..of Europe.
2006 Chesapeake Life June 86/2 (caption) Lady ferns provide a lush, cushioned bed for a tulip poplar, coated with a scale-like covering of lichen, felled by resident beavers.
lady-keys n. in later use English regional (chiefly Kent) and rare (a) cowslip, Primula veris; (b) = lady-lords n.
ΚΠ
1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung Praxis Med. Vniuersalis at Cowslips Lady keyes, or Primeroses [Ger. Schlüsselblumen oder Himmelschlüssel und Sanct Peters Schlüssel].
1881 Notes & Queries 10 Sept. 215/2 The flowers in the fields commonly known as cowslips are called ladykeys, but when ladykeys have become coloured or variegated..they go by the name of cowslips.
1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Lady-keys, same as Lady-lords..; the name given by children to the wild arum.
lady-lords n. English regional (Kent) (rare) wild arum, Arum maculatum; cf. lords and ladies n.
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1887 W. D. Parish & W. F. Shaw Dict. Kentish Dial. Lady-lords, lords and ladies; the name given by children to the wild arum.
lady orchid n. [on the reason for the name, compare quot. 1925] a robust European and North African orchid, Orchis purpurea, with spikes of large flowers typically having a dark red hood and a whitish three-lobed lip spotted with reddish-purple.
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1925 C. B. Tahourdin Native Orchids of Brit. 7 The Great Dark Winged Orchid... It is sometimes locally known as the ‘Lady’ Orchid from the supposed resemblance of the lip to a lady wearing very old-fashioned full skirts.
1951 V. S. Summerhayes Wild Orchids Brit. xiii. 252 The lady orchid belongs to the Southern Eurasian Element of the British orchid flora.
1993 BBC Wildlife June 6/2 Even more large and showy is the lady orchid O. purpurea, which has flowers with a broad, frilly ‘skirt’, spotted purple on white, as the lower lip of the flower, with the upper petals formed like a Victorian bonnet.
lady orchis n. = lady orchid n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids > early purple orchids
standengussa1400
standelworta1500
gandergoose?1550
adder's grass1551
ragwort1552
cuckoo orchis1578
fool's ballocks1578
Palma Christi1578
standergrass1578
fool's stones1597
fox-stones1597
goat's stones1597
goat stones1597
testicles1597
dead man's finger1604
long purples1604
dead man's thumb1652
man orchis1670
monkey orchisa1678
meadow orchis1753
military orchis1784
male orchis1785
ram's horn1832
lady orchis1846
dead man's hand1853
scorpion plant1866
phalaenopsid1880
walking orchid1910
soldier orchid1934
1846 A. Pratt Wild Flowers of Year 61 More conspicuous than these, and more beautiful also, is that species of orchis commonly called the lady orchis.
1868 L. Page Stars of Earth 132 The largest orchis of all is the lady orchis (Orchis fusca), which often grows as high as two feet.
1990 Guardian (Nexis) 13 June I was invited by a friend to join him on a trip to admire a colony of the rare Lady Orchis.
lady palm n. any of various fan palms of the South-East Asian genus Rhapis, esp. R. excelsa, often cultivated as ornamentals.
ΚΠ
1939 L. H. Bailey Gentes Herbarum 4 199 For all our long familiarity with these lady palms, they remain to this day singularly confused as to identity and nomenclature.
1981 Capital (Annapolis, Maryland) 20 Nov. 9/3 The Lady palm, known as Rhapis excelsa, is a small plant growing to about 5 feet with groups of beautiful papery thin leaves.
2006 J. Carloftis Beyond Windowsill iii. 63 If a wonderful exotic and lush interior is one that you are trying to create, then the lady palm should be on your shopping list.
d. As a title.
Lady Baltimore n. [apparently either directly < the title of Lady Baltimore, wife of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore (c1580–1632), the founder of Maryland, or < the name of the Lady Baltimore Tea Room in Charleston, South Carolina, where such a cake may first have been made (although the shop may alternatively have been named after the cake)] U.S. (more fully Lady Baltimore cake) a light-textured white layer cake, traditionally iced and with a filling containing pecans, dried fruit, etc.Further popularized by Owen Wister's novel Lady Baltimore, which describes such a cake (see quot. 1906).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > cake > [noun] > a cake > sponge-cake
Savoy cake?1750
sponge cake1808
muffin1835
Madeira cake1845
Victoria sandwich1861
angels' food1865
marble cake1871
sponge1877
angel cake1878
angel food cake1878
layer cake1882
sponge sandwich1884
Lady Baltimore cake1889
sand cake1892
sandwich cake1911
Victoria sponge1934
red velvet1951
1889 Ladies' Home Jrnl. Aug. 14/2 Lady Baltimore Cake.
1906 O. Wister Lady Baltimore vii. 89 I'll have to-day, if you please, another slice of that Lady Baltimore.
1948 Chicago Tribune 15 Jan. 4/6 (advt.) Lady Baltimore Cakes, 85c–$1.10. 4 white, fine-grained layers, filled and iced with butter cream.
1970 New Yorker 5 Sept. 36/3 My mother stayed out of the kitchen..except for making..an occasional cake, like the monument for Father's birthday called a Lady Baltimore.
2006 Houston Chron. (Nexis) 22 Nov. (Star section) 2 Martha exhibited a perfect Lady Baltimore cake.
Lady Bountiful n. [originally with allusion to the character of Lady Bountiful in G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem (1707)] a wealthy, munificent person; (in later use depreciative) a wealthy person who engages in ostentatious acts of charity.Chiefly used of a woman.
ΚΠ
1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem iv. 41 Where is my Lady Bountiful?]
1752 H. Fielding Amelia I. iii. iii. 120 It contained Medicines of all Kinds, which her Mother, who was the Lady Bountiful of that Country, had supplied her with.
1830 T. B. Macaulay Southey's Colloq. in Ess. (1854) I. 109/1 He [sc. the magistrate] ought to be..a Lady Bountiful in every parish, a Paul Pry in every house.
1946 Harper's Mag. Dec. 541/2 Her charity work is personal, since Lady Bountifuls are as one with the dodo.
1988 New Statesman 3 June 22/1 Their new Tory communitarianism has a strong whiff of Lady Bountiful about it... They do not see that a community cannot be fashioned out of a series of altruistic spasms.
1996 P. Gregory Perfectly Correct (1997) 77 ‘I enjoy my work,’ Miriam said, steadfastly smiling. The old woman snorted. ‘Lady Bountiful,’ she said spitefully.
Lady Luck n. [compare Middle French, French Dame Fortune (beginning of the 15th cent.), Spanish señora Fortuna (1619 or earlier)] rare before 20th cent. = fortune n. 1a (cf. Dame Fortune at dame n. 6a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > [noun] > good fortune
hapc1225
whatec1330
fortune1390
felicity1393
good luck1481
lucka1500
Lady Lucka1535
happiness1540
goodhap1557
faustity1656
serendipity1754
kokum1851
bonanza1878
a1535 T. More Dauy the Dycer in Wks. (1557) II. 1433 Long was I lady Lucke your seruing man.
1919 H. Wiley in F. van Wyck Mason Fighting American (1943) 707 Gimme dem dice!.. Lady Luck, I aims to run yo' ragged!
1921 Bryologist 24 87 Until I met with my good friend the horned toad, ‘Lady Luck’ was not with me.
1936 C. Sandburg People, Yes 165 Yes, get Lady Luck with you and you're made.
1997 C. Newland Scholar (1998) v. 55 But lady luck was smiling on the quartet as they carried out their plan.
Lady Macbeth n. [with allusion to the character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth] a remorseless or ruthless woman, esp. one who assists or controls a weak man.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [noun] > resolute or determined person > woman > who will stop at nothing
Lady Macbeth1791
1791 J. Ireland Hogarth Illustr. II. 544 I do not discover either depravity or cruelty; though her conduct in this..evinced an uncommon portion of both, and proved her a Lady Macbeth in low life.
1876 A. Trollope Prime Minister i. xi. 169 I feel myself to be a Lady Macbeth, prepared for the murder of any Duncan or any Daubeny who may stand in my lord's way.
1919 R. Kipling Years Between 92 A boy drowning kittens Winced at the business; whereupon his sister (Lady Macbeth aged seven) thrust 'em under.
2001 S. Paretsky Total Recall (2002) li. 501 Not that she was the Lady Macbeth behind Bertrand—he didn't need his wife to screw his courage to the sticking point.
Lady Mayoress n. (also with lower-case initials) the spouse of a Lord Mayor; a person who accompanies a Lord Mayor on official occasions.
ΚΠ
1537 in Privy Purse Expenses Princess Mary (1831) 9 Item payed for vj Bonetts bought of my Lady meyres of london for new yers gyfts.
1619 T. Middleton Triumphs Loue & Antiq. sig. C3 This King..sent to the Lady Maioresse..2. Harts [etc.].
1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example i. i. 10 To dine at my Lord Mayor's, and after Dinner be entertain'd with a Dish of Bohea by my Lady Mayoress.
1897 Daily News 31 Mar. 8/3 The Lady Mayoress..made a short but vigorously-phrased plea.
1987 Herald (Melbourne) (Nexis) 11 Aug. We will have to get used to the gender bending novelty of a lord mayor who is a woman and a lady mayoress who is a man.
2002 Times 26 July ii. 8/1 Every Lady Mayoress of London does charity work and my abseil raised £10,000.
Lady Muck n. (see Lady Muck n. at muck n.1 Phrases 3).
Lady Superior n. (also with lower-case initials) now chiefly historical a nun who is the head of a religious community or institution (cf. Mother Superior at mother n.1 3a).
ΚΠ
1728 tr. R. Aubert de Vertot D'Aubeuf Hist. Knights of Malta I. iv. 184 The lady superior [Fr. La Superieure] of Beaulieu is elective and perpetual, takes the title of grand prioress, and wears the great cross.
1822 Times 7 Jan. 2/2 The Lady Superior of the convent of Maternite.
1903 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 3 834 I was in the same group of hospitals with the lady superior who was at the head of the Catholic schools and convent at South Bend.
1996 D. G. Martin Gettysburg July 1 (rev. ed.) v. 198 The college's Lady Superior had hosted the troops very graciously.
e.
lady apple n. a variety of small apple, having a shiny skin varying in colour from yellow to crimson, now chiefly used for decoration; also called pomme d'api; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > apple > [noun] > eating-apple > types of
costardc1390
bitter-sweet1393
Queening?1435
richardine?1435
blaundrellc1440
pear apple1440
tuberc1440
quarrendenc1450
birtle1483
deusan1570
apple-john1572
Richard1572
lording1573
greening1577
queen apple1579
peeler1580
darling1584
doucin1584
golding1589
puffin1589
lady's longing1591
bitter-sweeting1597
pearmain1597
paradise apple1598
garden globe1600
gastlet1600
leather-coat1600
maligar1600
pome-paradise1601
French pippin1629
gillyflower1629
king apple1635
lady apple1651
golden pippin1654
goldling1655
puff1655
cardinal1658
green fillet1662
chestnut1664
cinnamon apple1664
fenouil1664
go-no-further1664
Westbury apple1664
seek-no-farther1670
nonsuch1676
calville1691
passe-pomme1691
fennel apple1699
queen1699
genet1706
fig-apple1707
oaken pin1707
nonpareil1726
costing1731
monstrous reinette1731
Newtown pippin1760
Ribston1782
Rhode Island greening1795
oslin1801
fall pippin1803
monstrous pippin1817
Newtown Spitzenburg1817
Gravenstein1821
Red Astrachan1822
Tolman sweet1822
grange apple1823
orange pippin1823
Baldwin1826
Sturmer Pippin1831
Newtowner1846
Northern Spy1847
Blenheim Orange1860
Cox1860
McIntosh Red1876
Worcester1877
raspberry apple1894
delicious1898
Laxton's Superb1920
Macoun1924
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > apple > eating-apple > types of
costardc1390
bitter-sweet1393
pippin?1435
pomewater?1435
Queening?1435
richardine?1435
blaundrellc1440
pear apple1440
tuberc1440
quarrendenc1450
birtle1483
sweeting1530
pomeroyal1534
renneta1568
deusan1570
apple-john1572
Richard1572
lording1573
russeting1573
greening1577
queen apple1579
peeler1580
reinette1582
darling1584
doucin1584
golding1589
puffin1589
lady's longing1591
bitter-sweeting1597
pearmain1597
paradise apple1598
garden globe1600
gastlet1600
leather-coat1600
maligar1600
pomeroy1600
short-start1600
jenneting1601
pome-paradise1601
russet coat1602
John apple1604
honey apple1611
honeymeal1611
musk apple1611
short-shank1611
spice apple1611
French pippin1629
king apple1635
lady apple1651
golden pippin1654
goldling1655
puff1655
cardinal1658
renneting1658
green fillet1662
chestnut1664
cinnamon apple1664
fenouil1664
go-no-further1664
reinetting1664
Westbury apple1664
seek-no-farther1670
nonsuch1676
white-wining1676
russet1686
calville1691
fennel apple1699
queen1699
genet1706
fig-apple1707
oaken pin1707
musk1708
nonpareil1726
costing1731
monstrous reinette1731
Newtown pippin1760
Ribston1782
Rhode Island greening1795
oslin1801
wine apple1802
fall pippin1803
monstrous pippin1817
Newtown Spitzenburg1817
Gravenstein1821
Red Astrachan1822
Tolman sweet1822
grange apple1823
orange pippin1823
Baldwin1826
wine-sap1826
Jonathan1831
Sturmer Pippin1831
rusty-coat1843
Newtowner1846
Northern Spy1847
Cornish gilliflowerc1850
Blenheim Orange1860
Cox1860
nutmeg pippin1860
McIntosh Red1876
Worcester1877
raspberry apple1894
delicious1898
Laxton's Superb1920
Melba apple1928
Melba1933
Mutsu1951
Newtown1953
discovery1964
1651 T. Randolph et al. Hey for Honesty iii. iii. 27/2 I have brought the a dish of Pearmains and Pippins, with a dish of Lordings and Ladyapples, and some of our country fruit.
1708 T. Nourse Mistery of Husbandry Discover'd (ed. 3) x. 151 I look upon the Lady-apple, which in Colour most resembles a Red-streak, to be the greatest Bearer that is.
1856 A. J. Downing Fruits & Fruit Trees of Amer. (ed. 14) 115 It is an old French variety, and is nearly always known abroad by the name of Api; but the name of Lady Apple has become too universal here, to change it now.
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta I. ii. 36 The girl with the lady-apple cheeks.
2004 Wine & Spirits Q. Winter 16/2 A basket of tiny lady apples and Seckel pears, clementines, kumquats and whole nuts makes a beautiful, edible centerpiece.
lady bower n. †(a) = lady's bower n. at Compounds 3c (obsolete); (b) a woman's private room or bedroom (now rare).
ΚΠ
1715 R. Thoresby Ducatus Leodiensis 446 Flamula Jovis, Virginian Lady Bower.
1832 J. Bree St. Herbert's Isle 19 The burly thane..oft in lady-bower would long remain.
1844 T. Crossley in J. Nicholson Poems p. xlii Like minstrel of the olden time In princely halls or lady bowers.
lady cake n. U.S. (now chiefly historical) a type of white cake similar to a pound cake, but made with egg whites rather than whole eggs, and typically flavoured with ground almonds and rose water.
ΚΠ
1834 Lady's Bk. Oct. 192/1 Lady Cake. The whites only of sixteen eggs... Two ounces of shelled bitter almonds... Three wine glasses of rose water... This cake when properly made, and well-baked is beautifully white.
1926 H. E. Rives Compl. Bk. Etiquette (1934) x. 125 Usually [sc. after a christening] there is an informal reception, with iced white ‘lady cake’ decked with sugar roses.
2004 Oxf. Encycl. Food & Drink in Amer. 159/1 Lady cake was essentially a pound cake made with egg whites rather than whole eggs..and hauntingly flavored with bitter almonds pounded to a paste with rose water.
lady-chair n. now rare a seat formed by the hands of two people; cf. queen's chair n. at queen n. Compounds 3b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > [noun] > by a person > chair formed by linked hands
lady-chair1707
king's cushion1818
queen's cushion1825
saddle seat1913
1707 N. Tate Injur'd Love 71 Nymphs shorn t'equip a brainless Beau with Hair, And brawny booby lugg'd in Lady-Chair.
1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks xxvi. 331 Tina..insisted upon it that we should occasionally carry her in a lady-chair over to this island.
1915 E. C. Dowd Doodles 108 We're going to make a lady-chair and take him that way.
lady chamber n. rare (now archaic) a woman's private room or bedroom.
ΚΠ
1580 in A. H. Smith et al. Papers N. Bacon of Stiffkey (1983) II. 137 The halle, the chamber, the ladychamber..the dynynge chamber and parte of the gallarie is seeled with either wainscot oke or furrendeele seelynge.
1853 C. Merivale Fall Rom. Republic xi. 323 This tender nursling of a patrician lady-chamber was climbing mountains on foot.
1986 S. Penman Here be Dragons (1991) (U.K. ed.) i. xvi. 247 Joanna did not realize there is no lady chamber here at Dolwyddelan. She took one look at our bed, and her face took on all the colours of sunset.
lady-court n. rare the court of a lady.
ΚΠ
1830 S. Turner Hist. Eng. Middle Ages (ed. 3) V. viii. iii. 265 The inquiry brought before the Lady-court of the countess, was whether love..could subsist between married people?
1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 355/1 Lady-court, the court of a lady of the manor.
lady cracker n. originally and chiefly U.S. a type of small cylindrical firework which explodes with a sharp report (cf. cracker n. 6a).
ΚΠ
1893 Republican (Hamilton, Ohio) 29 June (advt.) A full assortment comprising..Whistling Bombs, Rockets, Roman Candles, Lady Crackers.
1950 Los Angeles Times 4 July ii. 5/5 I sat disconsolately firing lady crackers one at a time.
2000 Sunday Telegram (Worcester, Mass.) (Nexis) 4 June c4 The harmless little lady crackers that poofed when they went off.
lady errant n. [after knight-errant n.] humorous a woman who travels in search of adventure.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > heroism > [noun] > heroine
heroine1587
heroess1612
lady errant1615
Bellona1820
shero1836
hero-woman1847
tiger-cat1863
war heroine1932
lad1935
1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. I5 She reades Greenes workes ouer and ouer, but is so carried away with the Myrrour of Knighthood, she is many times resolu'd to run out of her selfe, and become a Ladie Errant.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. vi. 364 Conscientious Catholicks conceived these Lady Errants so much to deviate from feminine..modesty..that they zealously decried their practice.
1738 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. Nov. (1966) II. 130 I hear of a new lady-errant, who is set forth to seek adventures at Paris.
1848 New Englander (New Haven, Connecticut) Oct. 555 Never, since the days of the Italian romances, did mortal lady-errant run such hazards by night or day—such perils by fire and water—such hair-breadth escapes.
1941 Hispania 24 273 What sort of person is this Yankee, who..represents Sancho Panza as set off against Alisande, the lady errant whom he accompanies?
2006 K. Britland Drama at Courts Queen Henrietta Maria x. 193 The queen consort travelled into Holland like a lady-errant to pawn her jewels and raise money for the war effort.
lady friend n. a female friend; (in later use) a girlfriend, a sweetheart.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > one who is loved or a sweetheart > specifically a female sweetheart or girlfriend
lief971
ladya1393
ladyshipa1393
speciala1400
amiec1400
womanc1400
amoreta1425
mistressc1425
paramoura1450
fair ladya1470
girl?a1513
sooterkin1530
Tib1533
she1547
lady-love1568
jug1569
young lady1584
pigeon1592
love-lass1594
lass1596
dowsabel1612
swainling1615
lucky1629
Dulcinea1638
Lindabrides1640
inamorata1651
baby1684
best girl1691
lady friend1733
young woman1822
moll1823
querida1834
sheila1839
bint1855
tart1864
babykins1870
Dona1874
novia1874
fancy-girl1892
girlfriend1892
cliner1895
tootsy1895
dinah1898
best1904
twist and twirl1905
jane1906
kitten1908
patootie1918
meisie1919
bride1924
gf1925
jelly1931
sort1933
a bit (also piece) of homework1945
beast1946
queen1955
momma1964
mi'jita1970
her indoors1979
girlf1991
1733 A. Pope Let. 16 Feb. in Wks. (1741) II. lxiv. 131 Your Lady friend is Semper Eadem.
1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 8 Bring home with you That sweet strange lady-friend.
1848 F. A. Buck Let. 15 Nov. in Yankee Banker (1930) 23 We have eight soirees or assemblies..to which we have the privilege of taking our lady friends.
1879 ‘G. Eliot’ Let. 18 Mar. (1956) VII. 117 This week for the first time I am going to see a lady friend.
1931 Weekend Rev. 17 Oct. 496/1 The night-watchman, after taunting Larry with his inexperience in affairs of the heart, is obliged to stand by and see the youngster making rapid headway in the affections of his own lady-friend.
2001 Jrnl. Social Hist. 35 398 The tendency of members to use the club's craft to ship their lady friends upriver led to its being renamed the ‘Floating Fornication Club’.
lady garden n. colloquial and euphemistic (chiefly British and Australian) the female genitals or pubic hair; cf. garden n. 1d.
ΚΠ
2001 J. Harvey Gimme Gimme Gimme (2002) 147/2 Can they see through my clothes? Can they see my ladygarden?
2007 Sunday Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 19 Aug. (M section) 9 Do you really sleep in undies? I never do. My mother taught me that my lady garden needs to breathe overnight.
2015 Metro (Scotl. ed.) (Nexis) 8 Jan. Leg fuzz, armpit shadow and a less manicured lady garden are all back on the beauty menu.
lady governess n. (also with capital initials) now historical a woman of high rank having charge of a young person, esp. a prince or princess (cf. sense 3c); (later also) a gentlewoman employed as a tutor in a household (cf. Compounds 1d(c)).
ΚΠ
?c1500 For Christening of Prince or Princess (BL MS Add. 38174) f. 12 The child to be borne vnto the nourcery where it shalbe norished wt a lady governouz of the norsery.
1638 F. Quarles Hieroglyphikes Ep. Ded. sig. A4 To the Right Honorable..Mary, Covntess of Dorset; Lady Governess to the most Illustrious, Charles, Prince of great Britain.
1710 Ld. Shaftesbury Soliloquy 167 The Method of expostulating with his Lady-Governess.
1821 Gentleman's Mag. May 336/2 The Querist knows the etiquette of a Lady Governess..but he has never heard of dry and wet-nurses being (according to etiquette) strictly required to be of noble descent.
1859 Dublin Rev. Mar. 93 That most suffering section of the poor, the lady-governess class.
1904 Times 24 May 14/3 Wanted, Lady Governess, North German, good English teacher.
2003 D. Loades Elizabeth I iii. 41 For the time being she was simply one of Elizabeth's gentlewomen, and it was not until..October 1537 that she became lady governess, and began to take her charge's education and training in hand.
lady help n. a refined woman engaged to perform domestic service; cf. Compounds 1d(c).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > domestic servant > [noun] > female > that is a lady
lady help1848
1848 Graham's Mag. Mar. 180/1 My Aunt Lina's paragon is a ‘lady-help’. Of all kinds ‘of help’ the very one I have endeavored most to avoid; it is such a nondescript kind of creature that lady-help.
1875 Punch 11 Sept. 98/1 In poor genteel families, lady-helps could hardly expect any wages.
1922 ‘K. Mansfield’ Garden Party (1923) 15 Mrs. S. J. and the poor lady-help drew up what she called a ‘brogramme’ every morning to keep them ‘abused and out of bischief’.
1973 Times 6 Nov. 38/1 (advt.) Reliable lady help required for large country house in Surrey.
1997 N. Tonkovich Domesticity with Difference vii. 145 Hale does not consider whence the lady-help originated. Who but gentlewomen fallen on hard times or unmarried female relatives might provide the dainty and tastefully refined services this lady-helper would render?
ladykiller n. humorous an attractive, charming man who habitually seduces women.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > loss of chastity > [noun] > seduction > seducer
seducera1616
woman-killer1654
cousin1694
betrayer1766
ladykiller1769
Lovelace1773
Don Juan1847
wolf1847
Casanova1928
homme fatal1935
1769 A. B. Poyntz Je Ne Sçai Quoi i. 2 Of all you woman-hunters, commend me to the Lady-killer, as I call him, who, the moment he finds a female seemingly to incline towards him, leaves her, as he thinks, to die of a broken heart.
1811 A. de Beauclerc Ora & Juliet II. 197 Upwards of twenty sat down at table, amongst whom was the lady killer, or Colonel Sackville.
1910 J. London Burning Daylight (1913) ii. vi. 170 Of all unlikely things, to have the reputation of being a lady-killer..and to have a woman kill herself out of love for him!
1996 J. McCormick & S. Fisher-Hoch Level 4 xxii. 197 Don was quite a lady killer in those days, so his trip turned out to be something of an event for the girls of Segbwema.
ladykilling n. and adj. humorous (a) n. the action of charming and seducing women; (b) adj. that charms and seduces women.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > [noun] > act of fascinating women
ladykilling1795
the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > [adjective] > having a power of fascination over women
ladykilling1795
1795 S. Chatterton Poems 66 Thus of each requisite possess'd That might alarm a female breast, He went a lady-killing.
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 192 Ladykilling coterie.
1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow III. xvi. 251 ‘Pretty lady-killing,’ muttered the sergeant.
1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma i. 2 Nature had favoured Billy's pretensions in the lady-killing way.
1960 ‘Miss Read’ Fresh from Country (1962) v. 59 He was lazy, vain, and boastful, and his jejune attempts at lady-killing irritated Anna.
2007 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 4 May e1 A speed-metal indictment of a ladykilling creep who seduces women into his posh hot tub.
† lady-monger n. Obsolete = ladies' man n. at Compounds 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > [noun] > flirt > male flirt > ladies' man or philanderer
gallanta1450
dalliera1568
women's man1568
amorist1595
woman's man1597
lady-mongerc1600
dammaret1635
topgallant1701
agapet1736
ladies' man1764
Jack among the maids1785
philanderer1841
Romeo1902
tea-hound1921
bird dog1942
c1600 Return: 1st Pt. iv. i, in Three Parnassus Plays (1949) 193 This haberdasher of lyes, this Bracchidochio, this Ladye munger.
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 23 He serv'd two Prenticehips and longer, I' th' Myst'ry of a Lady-Monger.
1707 E. Ward London Terræfilius No. 1. 26 That Libidinous Coxcomb of a Creature, is one of those Insatiate Lady-mongers, call'd an Universal Lover.
lady pack n. a pack of female hounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > hound > [noun] > pack of
mutec1350
packa1450
suita1450
cry1600
lady pack1828
1828 Sporting Mag. Apr. 414/1 Met Mr. Osbaldeston at Kirby Gate—the lady pack looking in high beauty, and a thundering large field.
1896 Westm. Gaz. 18 Dec. 4/1 Crossing the Swift brook the lady pack made play across the meadows beyond at a rare pace.
1978 B. Campbell Badminton Trad. 131 Every hound was helping to drive a sinking fox to his death, instead of hanging about and trying to have another hunt on her own (for it was the lady pack).
† lady pear n. [after French †poire de Madame (1654 in the passage translated in quot. 1658)] Obsolete a variety of pear.
ΚΠ
1658 J. Evelyn tr. N. de Bonnefons French Gardiner 115 The Ice Pear. The great stalked Pear. Ugly-Good. The Lady Pear.
1664 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense 78 in Sylva Sugar-Pear, Lady-Pear, Ice-pear.
1746 Moffett & Bennet's Health's Improvem. (new ed.) xxii. 306 The Lady-pear is too watrish, though beautiful in colour.
† lady ware n. Obsolete the genitals or sexual organs of either sex.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > sex organs > [noun]
shapea1000
shameOE
i-cundeOE
memberc1300
privy memberc1325
kindc1330
privitiesc1375
harness1382
shameful parts1382
genitoriesa1387
partc1390
tailc1390
genitalsa1393
thingc1405
genitalc1450
privy parts1533
secret1535
loin?1541
genitures1548
filthy parts1553
shamefulness1561
ware1561
meatc1564
natural places1569
secret members1577
lady ware1592
natural parts1601
lady's ware1608
gear1611
private parts1623
groin1631
pudendums1634
natural1650
privacies1656
sex1664
secrecyc1675
nudities1677
affair1749
sexual parts1753
person1824
sex organ1847
privates1940
naughty bits1972
1592 Soliman & Pers. iv. ii. 49 The Ladies of Rhodes, hearing that you haue lost a capitoll part of your Lady ware.
1656 J. Mennes & J. Smith Musarum Deliciæ (ed. 2) 73 Your Breasts all open bare, So farre, that a man may almost see Unto your Lady-ware.
lady wit n. a female wit.In quot. 1647 with reference to effeminate men.
ΚΠ
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iii. iii. sig. L Are these the admired Ladie-wits, that hauing so good a Plaine-song, can runne no better Diuision vpon it. View more context for this quotation
1647 H. More Philos. Poems To Rdr. 6/1 Some Lady-wits that can like nothing that is not as compos'd as their own hair, or as smooth as their Mistresses Looking-glasse.
1860 ‘G. Wharton’ & ‘P. Wharton’ Wits & Beaux of Society I. 301 The abbé was, as usual, surrounded by a circle of lady-wits, dressed in the last fashions, flaunting their fans, and laughing merrily at his sallies.
2006 Guardian (Nexis) 17 Apr. 28 She had reinvented herself again, as a chic and super-successful lady wit.
C3. Compounds with lady's or ladies'.
a. Designating an article of clothing, accessory, or other item designed or intended to be worn or used by a woman, often characterized as being smaller, more delicate, etc., than the equivalent item for a man.
ΚΠ
1692 W. Congreve Let. 21 Aug. (1964) 8 I am forced to Borrow Ladies paper but I think it will contain all that I can tell you.
1726 J. Hobson Diary 8 Oct. in C. Jackson et al. Yorks. Diaries (1877) I. 258 Out of it..came pyramidicall streams of light, their points uniting..and forming such a figure as a ladies' umbrella.
1793 Cabinet-makers' London Bk. Prices (ed. 2) 161 A Rudd, or Lady's Dressing Table... Three feet four inches long, two feet wide, three drawers in front, a glass frame hing'd to each end drawer, [etc.].
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast iii. 20 A ship is like a lady's watch, always out of repair.
1895 Army & Navy Co-op Soc. Price List 1059 Ladies' knickerbockers. For walking, golf, tennis, riding and cycling.
1913 W. Owen Let. 27 Dec. (1967) 224 A delightful silver Precision Watch, small (but not ‘Ladies’).
1944 C. Drepperd Primer Amer. Antiques 233/1 Ladies' Twist, a dainty roll of flavored tobacco favored by ladies..as the most genteel manner of using tobacco.
1984 New Yorker 12 Nov. 134/2 It probably wasn't called a snubby but a..lady's gun.
2002 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 6 Apr. b7 The ladies' underwear section in the Eaton's catalogue.
b.
Ladies' Aid Society n. (also Ladies' Aid) (a) (North American) an organization of women who support the work of a church by fund-raising, arranging social activities, etc.; (b) an organization of women dedicated to sending garments, bandages, etc., to soldiers fighting in the American Civil War (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific women's organizations
Ladies' Aid Society1842
mothers' meeting1865
Mothers' Union1888
Women's Institute1897
W.S.P.U.1907
Soroptimist Club1921
rural1925
Rural Institute1925
W.I.Z.O.1925
W.I.1928
W.V.S.1939
Black Sash1955
W.R.V.S.1966
society > faith > church government > laity > lay associations > Ladies Aid > [noun]
Ladies' Aid Society1842
1842 Jrnl. 24th Ann. Convent. Protestant Episcopal Church Ohio 48 We have also a Ladies' aid Society, the proceeds of which have been applied to paying off our Church debt.
1866 F. Moore Women of War 214 Mrs. Wittenmeyer, as president of the Ladies' Aid Society of Iowa.
1895 Times (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.) 4 Apr. 1/2 The Social [was] under the auspices of the Ladies Aid of the Methodist Church.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xiv. 143 She had taken it off..when returning from the Ladies' Aid.
1964 Calgary (Alberta) Herald 21 Mar. 8/9 The ‘Apron Social’ and tea given in the basement of the Knox Church last evening under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society of the congregation.
1998 Representations 64 66 Ladies' Aid Societies organized kinds of labor that in peacetime were private—such as sewing, cooking, and nursing—into public industries.
2001 National Post (Canada) 27 Aug. a14/4 Stilted small-talk far more boring than anything you'd hear at the Elks' Lodge or the Ladies' Aid.
ladies' bar n. now chiefly historical a room reserved for women in a public house, or other establishment serving refreshments.
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1859 G. A. Sala Gaslight & Daylight xi. 127 The bar was cut up into little compartments;..and there was..the private bar, the ladies' bar, the wine and liqueur entrance, [etc.].
1897 Minutes Evid. Royal Comm. Liquor Licensing Laws III. 171/2 in Parl. Papers 1898 (C. 8694) XXXVI. 9 Several of the very large public-houses now in the Buckingham Palace Road, and in Notting Hill..have opened ladies' bars especially for women.
1979 G. Butler & C. Mann New Bk. S. Afr. Verse in Eng. 254 He disappears into the ladies' bars and is never seen again.
2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 212 The Sandown..had once been split into a nest of little rooms reflecting the minute gradations of caste, saloon, public bar, smoking room, ladies' bar, four ale bar.
ladies' cabin n. a compartment reserved for women on a train or a boat.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > room, locker, or quarters > [noun] > cabin > types of on passenger ship
state rooma1754
ladies' cabin1814
outside cabin1924
tourist cabin1928
1814 Amer. Med. & Philos. Reg. 2 264 In front of the staircase is the ladies' cabin, which contains sixteen births and eight sofas.
1832 E. Grosvenor Diary July in G. Huxley Lady Elizabeth & Grosvenors (1965) vi. 124 There were 20 fellow-passengers, so that the Lady's cabin was utterly untenable.
1925 E. H. Young William iv. 42 She sat down on a velvet-covered couch in the ladies' cabin.
2002 Guardian (Nexis) 16 July ii. 6 In India, if you are filling in a reservation form prior to buying your ticket, write, ‘ladies cabin’ in the special requirements section.
ladies' car n. U.S. = ladies' carriage n.
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society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > railway wagon or carriage > carriage designed to carry passengers > other types of passenger carriage
caravan1821
private car1826
Jim Crow car1835
ladies' car1841
saloon car or carriage1842
palace car1844
ladies' carriage1847
parliamentary carriage1849
parlour car1859
composite carriage1868
Pullman1869
observation car1872
first1873
compo1878
bogie carriage1880
chair-car1880
club car1893
corridor carriage1893
tourist-car1895
birdcage1900
dog box1905
corridor coach1911
vista-dome1945
Stolypin1970
1841 R. J. Vandewater Tourist (ed. 9) 96 Each train is provided with a Ladies' Car, in which are apartments and dressing-rooms expressly for their use.
1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. iv. 145 There are no first and second class carriages..but there is a gentlemen's car and a ladies' car.
1910 Waterloo (Iowa) Times-Tribune 22 Mar. 7/3 The heavy death rate in the smoking car was due to the fact of the heavier Colonia being in front... The smoker in turn, demolished the ladies' car.
2006 Houston Chron. (Nexis) 14 July a19 Crowds formed at the busiest stations, and men (women ride in their own ‘ladies cars’) battled their way aboard in quiet shoving matches.
ladies' carriage n. a train carriage reserved for women.
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society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > railway wagon or carriage > carriage designed to carry passengers > other types of passenger carriage
caravan1821
private car1826
Jim Crow car1835
ladies' car1841
saloon car or carriage1842
palace car1844
ladies' carriage1847
parliamentary carriage1849
parlour car1859
composite carriage1868
Pullman1869
observation car1872
first1873
compo1878
bogie carriage1880
chair-car1880
club car1893
corridor carriage1893
tourist-car1895
birdcage1900
dog box1905
corridor coach1911
vista-dome1945
Stolypin1970
1847 F. A. Kemble Let. 29 May in Rec. Later Life (1882) III. 183 From Liverpool to Crewe I had companions in the ladies' carriage in which I was.
1860 E. Hall Diary 30 July in O. A. Sherrard Two Victorian Girls (1966) 263 I am thankful today that ‘Ladies’ carriages have been given up in our country!
1922 E. H. Young Bridge Dividing iii. ix. 289 ‘I have to catch a train.’.. ‘Be careful to get into a ladies' carriage, Henrietta.’
2002 Weekend Australian (Nexis) 15 June e8 On the plus side, bunk-sharing can lead to small kindnesses—such as the delicious food handfed to me in a ladies' carriage in the south of India.
ladies' cloakroom n. a cloakroom or lavatory for women.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > water-closet or lavatory > public > women's
ladies' room1825
ladies' cloakroom1862
ladies1918
women's room1918
powder room1927
1862 Times 1 July 14/4 It would be tedious to describe in detail all the..features of the camp, which include an exhibition marquee..ammunition and rifle-cleaning tents, ladies cloak rooms, &c.
1918 A. Bennett Pretty Lady xxiii. 157 She hurried..to the ladies' cloakroom, got her wraps.
2005 News of World (Nexis) 11 Sept. The most valuable items stolen were earrings worth £2,000 pinched from the ladies' cloakroom at the House of Lords last year.
ladies' college n. a college established for the education of girls or young women (frequently in the name of such a college).
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society > education > place of education > college or university > [noun] > college > other colleges
agricultural college1778
state college1806
ladies' college1835
fem sem1842
junior college1899
ag1905
correspondence college1911
Aggie1920
seven sisters1927
juku1962
sixth-form college1965
1835 Lit. Gaz. (Concord, New Hampshire) 27 Feb. 183/2 Ladies' College. The Kentucky Legislature has granted to..Doren's Institute for Young Ladies..the chartered rights and standing of a College.
1895 C. M. Yonge Long Vac. xxi. 223 She had received from her father permission to enter a ladies' college, and the wherewithal.
1952 L. Hanson & E. Hanson Marian Evans & George Eliot 110 He..urged her to improve herself by attending the new ‘Ladies College’.
2005 Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 2 June 27 The former Cheltenham Ladies' College pupil is in her final year at the London School of Economics.
ladies' compartment n. a compartment reserved for women, esp. on a train.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > public passenger transport > [noun] > class of passenger accommodation > type of compartment
ladies' compartment1861
society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > railway wagon or carriage > carriage designed to carry passengers > compartment > types of
coupé1853
state room1853
ladies' compartment1861
coupé lit1882
1861 Times 29 Oct. 5/5 The absence of ladies' compartments in railway trains.
1931 D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings vii. 84 We made for a nice, old-fashioned Ladies' Compartment, not being great smokers in confined spaces.
2005 Times of India (Nexis) 30 Apr. Kulkarni..feels that the ladies compartment should be guarded by women constables.
ladies' fair n. chiefly North American a fund-raising bazaar or fête run by a women's organization.
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1823 Gentleman's Mag. May 400/2 Ladies' fairs for benevolent purposes are also ill judged as instances are not wanting in which they have grown to be intolerable nuisances.
1843 M. Fuller in Dial July 13 Governors of Ladies' Fairs are no less engrossed by such a charge, than the Governor of the State by his.
1902 Davenport (Iowa) Daily Republican 18 Nov. 8/3 You cannot put in an afternoon or evening to better advantage than by attending the ladies' fair at Edwards Congregational Church.
2007 Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 15 Sept. a5 Tickets are $12 each and include admission to the home-tour Luncheon and the ladies fair.
ladies' gallery n. a gallery reserved for women in a hall, courtroom, etc.; spec. (in the United Kingdom) such a gallery in the House of Commons (now historical).
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > deliberative, legislative, or administrative assembly > governing or legislative body of a nation or community > English or British parliament > [noun] > place of > occupied by lower house > parts of
table?1572
treasury-bench1775
side gallery1778
ladies' gallery1815
ventilator1822
pairing desk1899
1815 Ann. Reg. 1814 ii. Misc. 562/1 Other galleries were erected for two full military bands over the entrance leading to the Council Chamber, and above the ladies' galleries.
1897 ‘Ouida’ Massarenes xvii The speaker's box..is much more comfortable than the Lady's Gallery.
1950 Times 18 Oct. 5/6 The ladies' gallery has been abolished and the seats for strangers..are for the most part grouped together in the south gallery.
1992 S. S. Sered Women as Ritual Experts vi. 113 At the synagogue women sit in the ladies' gallery, which is entirely closed off from the men's section.
ladies' lounge n. (a) a room reserved for women in a restaurant, public house, club, etc., esp. one to which women are restricted (now chiefly historical); (b) a lavatory or washroom for women (cf. ladies' cloakroom n.).
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1910 Times 28 Feb. 12/5 (advt.) Our new restaurant in the Marble Building... Ladies' Lounge. Gentlemen's Smoking Room.
1947 Waukesha (Wisconsin) Daily Freeman 20 May 1/7 Three diamond rings..lay near the wash basin when Mayo Blake..entered the ladies lounge at the courthouse yesterday.
1997 D. Kirkby Barmaids p. x The men drank in the public bar from which we quickly learnt that children and women were excluded; the few women..sat alone in the hot, sparsely furnished..‘Ladies Lounge’.
2002 R. H. Schwab Departure from Script 211 The ladies' lounge... We walked into the carpeted outer area with its lighted makeup tables and mirrored walls... She pushed open the door that led into the..space that held the toilet stalls and sinks.
ladies' man n. (also lady's man) a man who enjoys female company, esp. one with a reputation for being successful in his romantic or sexual relationships.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > flirtation or coquetry > [noun] > flirt > male flirt > ladies' man or philanderer
gallanta1450
dalliera1568
women's man1568
amorist1595
woman's man1597
lady-mongerc1600
dammaret1635
topgallant1701
agapet1736
ladies' man1764
Jack among the maids1785
philanderer1841
Romeo1902
tea-hound1921
bird dog1942
1764 London Mag. July 343/2 Philander has good nature, a genteel person, a good address, and something very open and pleasing in his countenance, can sing, can dance, and, in short, is quite what is called the ladies man.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 423 A slave at court, elsewhere a lady's man . View more context for this quotation
1842 W. M. Thackeray Fitz-Boodle Papers (1887) Pref. 10 I am not..a ladies' man.
1929 E. R. Burroughs Monster Men i. 13 She had found him..an interesting talker with none of the, to her, disgusting artificialities of the professional ladies' man.
2007 Liverpool Echo (Nexis) 17 Oct. 3 He was a bit of a ladies man and there were lots of ex-girlfriends at the funeral.
Ladies' Mile n. = Rotten Row n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > [noun] > for horses or for riding > specifically in Hyde Park
ring1676
Rotten Row1761
ride1785
ring road1828
Ladies' Mile1848
1848 Lady's Newspaper 25 Mar. 247/2 Her carriage [is] the best appointed that rolls down the ‘ladies mile’ in the season.
1975 M. Crichton Great Train Robbery xvi. 82 The spongy, muddy pathway in Hyde Park called the Ladies' Mile, or Rotten Row.
ladies' night n. a function at an all-male club or organization to which women are invited; (in later use also) an evening on which women are given free or reduced admission to a nightclub or similar venue.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > type of social event > [noun] > to which ladies are invited
ladies' nighta1828
a1828 J. Bernard Retrospections of Stage (1830) II. ii. 43 We had not only the men but the women petitioning for admission as visitors. This induced the Committee to give what was termed ‘A Ladies' Night’.
1889 G. B. Shaw in Star 6 Dec. 2/4 An invitation from the Grosvenor Club to their ‘ladies' night’ at the Grosvenor Gallery.
1970 K. Giles Death in Church i. 18 The atmosphere of a Masonic ladies' night.
1980 Associated Press Newswire (Nexis) 12 July The ladies' nights, on which women do not have to pay cover charges and can buy drinks at reduced prices, are unfair to male patrons.
2003 C. Whitehead Colossus of N.Y. 125 Happy hour descends... It's ladies' night or discounted jello shots or two for one.
ladies' room n. = ladies' cloakroom n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > sanitation > privy or latrine > [noun] > water-closet or lavatory > public > women's
ladies' room1825
ladies' cloakroom1862
ladies1918
women's room1918
powder room1927
1825 J. Haig Topogr. & Hist. Acct. Kelso 137 Off from this is the ladies' room, thirteen feet by nine.
1880 ‘E. Leathes’ Actor Abroad xviii. 226 Many of them retire to the ladies' room, and changing their costume for evening dress reappear in the ball-room.
1948 G. Vidal City & Pillar (1949) iii. 64 ‘I think,’ said Emily, when she came back from the ladies' room, ‘I think that we should go over to that room on the left and get a drink.’
2006 C. Langston Bicoastal Babe v. 39 Would it be possible for me to hop into your club for a quick trip to the ladies' room?
ladies' school n. a (finishing) school for young women (now chiefly historical); also as (part of) the name of such a school.
ΚΠ
1771 Mem. Mr. Wilson I. 84 In the garden belonging to the ladies school he found a ladder.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. iv. 26 He had an order for another Ladies' School door-plate.
1940 Times 13 Feb. 2/3 (advt.) Young Cook wanted at once in ladies' school.
1991 Hist. Educ. Q. 31 506 These notions often found their way into books and ladies' schools that promoted art as a polite accomplishment.
2003 Northern Echo (Nexis) 26 Apr. 2006 Some schools, such as Harrogate Ladies' School, have imposed quarantines on students from the Far East.
ladies' seminary n. a (finishing) school or college for young women (now chiefly historical); also as (part of) the name of such an institution.
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1798 Longworth's Amer. Almanac 90 Anderson, Hutton, ladies seminary, 47 Whitehall-str.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. viii. 123 Whereon appeared in circumambient flourishes the words ‘Ladies' Seminary’.
1885 W. S. Gilbert Mikado i. Trio Three little maids who, all unwary, Come from a ladies' seminary, Freed from its genius tutelary—Three little maids from school!
1924 E. F. Ward Story Northwestern Univ. i. x. 61 William Jones, young as he was, had himself been largely responsible for Peoria Ladies' Seminary.
2005 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 18 June (Weekend section) 2 She was with her daughter, who was ‘in the middle of her GCSEs’ at one of London's private ladies' seminaries, ie, busy shopping.
ladies' tormentor n. see tormentor n. 3f.
ladies' wear n. = womenswear n.
ΚΠ
1786 Times 13 Apr. 1 (advt.) The richest tabbinets, for ladies wear and gentlemen's dress or summer frock suits.
1851 Official Descriptive & Illustr. Catal. Great Exhib. III. 565 Tatting or frivolité, for ladies' wear.
2007 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) (Nexis) 8 June 9 Women, especially those who work downtown, appreciate the improved offerings of ladies' wear.
lady's companion n. now historical (a) a paid female companion for a woman; (b) a small sewing box or case.
ΚΠ
1791 T. Holcroft School for Arrogance i. 12 Mr. Dor... What are you? Lydia. An humble dependant—A lady's companion.
1843 New Mirror 23 Dec. 1/1 (advt.) Lady's Work Cases and ‘Lady's Companions’, at from $1 to $50.
1987 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 9 Aug. ii. 29/1 The show also contains displays of sewing implements and kits, which became known as lady's companions.
2003 B. Taylor M. Wollstonecraft & Feminist Imagination 6 Teaching, governessing, needlework, ‘lady's companion’: these were some of the few jobs open to genteel women of small means.
† lady's gown n. Scots Law Obsolete a gift given to a woman by the buyer of her husband's land in return for her renunciation of her right to a liferent (see liferent n.).
ΚΠ
1761 Decisions Court of Session I. 387 The ordinary compliment called the Lady's gown, given for her consent to the sale and for renouncing her liferent insestment upon the lands.
1838 W. Burge Comm. Colonial & Foreign Laws vii. v. 426 The present frequently given to a wife by a purchaser of lands, for her renunciation of the liferent-right she had in the lands purchased, which is commonly styled the lady's gown.
lady's hole n. now historical (a) (also my lady's hole) a card game; (b) Nautical a small compartment where the gunner's stores are kept (cf. sense 12).In quot. 1658 with punning allusion to hole n. 8.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > others
laugh and lie down1522
mack1548
decoyc1555
pinionc1557
to beat the knave out of doors1570
imperial1577
prima vista1587
loadum1591
flush1598
prime1598
thirty-perforce1599
gresco1605
hole1621
my sow's pigged1621
slam1621
fox-mine-host1622
whipperginnie1622
crimpa1637
hundred1636
pinache1641
sequence1653
lady's hole1658
quebas1668
art of memory1674
costly colours1674
penneech1674
plain dealing1674
wit and reason1680
comet1685
lansquenet1687
incertain1689
macham1689
uptails1694
quinze1714
hoc1730
commerce1732
matrimonya1743
tredrille1764
Tom come tickle me1769
tresette1785
snitch'ems1798
tontine1798
blind hazard1816
all fives1838
short cards1845
blind hookey1852
sixty-six1857
skin the lamb1864
brisque1870
handicap1870
manille1874
forty-five1875
slobberhannes1877
fifteen1884
Black Maria1885
slapjack1887
seven-and-a-half1895
pit1904
Russian Bank1915
red dog1919
fan-tan1923
Pelmanism1923
Slippery Sam1923
go fish1933
Russian Banker1937
racing demon1938
pit-a-pat1947
scopa1965
1658 E. Phillips Myst. Love & Eloquence 173 What game do men love best?.. My Ladies hole.
1692 C. Gildon Post-boy rob'd of his Mail I. ciii. 278 The Women also have their dispatches, and to speak the Truth to a Man that understands Trap, a double Card plays best at my Lady's Hole.
1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 43 A Lady's Hole, or Place for the Gunner's small Stores, which Stores are looked after by one they call a Lady.
1732 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) I. 385 We got early into our inn, played at my lady's hole, supped, and went early to bed.
1784 Ann. Reg. 1782 Misc. Ess. 159/2 A large leak had been discovered, and stopt, in the fore-hold, and another in the lady's-hole.
1813 Sporting Mag. 42 273 From whist, that charms the noble's soul, To kitchen putt and lady's hole.
1910 H. T. Stephenson Elizabethan People ix. 203 A complete description of Elizabethan card games would fill a volume... For instance, Tickle me Quickly, My Lady's Hole, Whip her Jenny.
2000 J. McKay 100-Gun Ship Victory (2002) 82 Hold (lady's hole).
lady's hood n. [after king's hood n.] Scottish rare the omentum of a pig.
ΚΠ
1824 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xiv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 378 You'll turn my stomach at this dish o' tripe. The moniplies and the lady's hood are just excellent.
lady's horse n. a horse suitable to be ridden by a woman, esp. one trained to carry a person riding side-saddle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > for riding > palfrey or trained to carry lady
palfreya1225
lady's horse1786
lady's hunter1793
1786 Daily Universal Reg. 11 Aug. 4/4 (advt.) Two fine milch cows, a Pair of coach geldings, an exceeding good lady's horse, Farming and Garden Utensila, and various other Effects of John Ironmonger, Esq.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park I. iv. 71 Fanny should have a regular lady's horse of her own. View more context for this quotation
1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 52 An absolutely steady lady's horse—proof against steam-rollers, grade-crossings, and street processions.
1938 D. A. Houblon Side-saddle vii. 64 In Victorian days and even later a lady's horse to be perfect had always to canter with the off fore leading.
2005 Daily Star (Nexis) 3 Apr. 62 He's not big–the perfect horse for me to ride. He's a lady's horse.
lady's hunter n. a hunting horse suitable to be ridden by a woman, esp. one trained to carry a person riding side-saddle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > for riding > palfrey or trained to carry lady
palfreya1225
lady's horse1786
lady's hunter1793
1793 Times 23 Jan. 1/1 (advt.) To be sold, a very well bred chestnut mare, 6 years old..particularly safe and pleasant on the road, has carried a Lady, and would make an excellent Lady's hunter.
1860 Senior Fellow xxiii. 193 The Rector would have to send to town to a dealer to get her a real first-rate lady's hunter.
1948 Horseman's Year 172 (heading) Royal Welsh Agricultural Society show…Hunters…Ladies' Hunters. To be ridden side-saddle.
2004 Times (Nexis) 22 Mar. ii. 6 Stiff on the left rein. Pokes her nose. A nice little lady's hunter. My long-legged, dark-eyed, hairy mare.
lady's ladder n. Nautical slang a group of shrouds with closely spaced ratlines (ratline n.1 2).
ΚΠ
1834 W. N. Glascock Naval Sketch-bk. 2nd Ser. I. 8 The whole of the lower rigging was adrift, and the ‘ladies' ladders’, rendered comparatively useless.
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 466/2 Lady's ladder, Rattlins set (too) close.
1961 F. H. Burgess Dict. Sailing 129 Ladys ladder, Shrouds that are rattled too closely.
lady's loaf n. historical and rare = Ladymeat n. at Compounds 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social attitudes > philanthropy > [noun] > charitableness or alms-giving > that which is given in charity > in honour of Virgin Mary
Ladymeat1535
lady's loaf1875
1875 T. E. Bridgett Our Lady's Dowry 242 Alms, which naturally accompanied fasting, were also given in our Lady's honour. Indeed this was so constant a practice, that it acquired a peculiar name as Lady's meat or Lady's loaf.
lady's waist n. [so called on account of its shape (compare quot. 1934)] Australian and New Zealand colloquial a small slender beer glass; (also) a drink served in such a glass.
ΚΠ
1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Apr. 20/1 But a daintier goblet I never fingered than the hour~glass shape of a lady's waist.
1963 A. Lubbock Austral. Roundabout 59 A pony is drunk out of a small glass called a lady's waist.
1985 Bulletin (Sydney) 62/2 The shearers and drovers I met at Coonabarabran drank from the smallest, known as a lady's waist (five ounces).
† lady's ware n. Obsolete = lady ware n. at Compounds 2e.
ΚΠ
1608 R. Tofte tr. L. Ariosto Satyres iv. 67 The slie Venetian lockt his Ladies ware, Yet through her wit Acteons badge he bare.
lady's wind n. Nautical a gentle breeze.
ΚΠ
1886 Cent. Mag. 32 700/2 A gentle breeze blew from the Shore..a ‘lady's wind’, sailors would call it.
2000 L. E. Forbes Vulgar Boatmen (O.E.D. Archive) iv. 42 Fishing conditions were perfect. We had a lady's wind, clear water, and the tide table was accurate.
lady's woman n. †(a) (perhaps) a woman who professes devotion to the Virgin Mary (obsolete); (b) a lady's maid.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lady's maid
chamberlaina1400
waiting-maid1561
chambermaid1569
lady's maid1577
tire-woman1615
abigail1616
fille de chambre1673
suivante1674
comb-brush1702
tiring-woman1732
femme de chambre1741
lady's woman1748
personal maid1748
comb-brusher1751
ayah1782
wardrobe maid1797
soubrette1824
camerist1838
tire-maid1871
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 885/2 Hee [sc. St Paul] saith not women but simple women, as if he said, these little Ladies women [Fr. ces petites bigotes], that woulde eat the crucifix (as we say) which make a shewe of great devotion.
1604 B. Jonson His Pt. Royall Entertainem. 11 Perhaps your Foole, or so, may moue Some Ladies woman with a Trick.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xi. 78 The deplorable vanity and second-hand airs of a lady's woman.
1822 J. Neal Logan II. iv. 195 Look at Romeo and Juliet..he makes love in a set speech..like ‘High life below stairs’—a valet making love to a lady' s woman.
1997 Archit. Hist. 40 149 Details of Family Wing..Lady's woman's room. Converted to a kitchen in about 1980.
c. In names of plants. [Partly as a shortening of corresponding compounds (with marked genitive in the first element) at Our Lady n.; the designation is usually given to plants of particular beauty or delicacy. Compare German Frauen-, Marien- (both 15th cent. or earlier in plant names).]
lady's bedstraw n. any of several herbaceous plants of the genus Galium (family Rubiaceae), esp. G. verum, having linear whorled leaves and clusters of tiny yellow flowers; cf. earlier Our Lady bedstraw n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 1, Our Lady's bedstraw n. at Compounds 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Rubiaceae or Galiaceae (bedstraw, etc.) > [noun]
wild madderc1450
crudwort15..
Our Lady bedstraw1527
Our Lady's bedstraw1543
galion1548
maidenhair1548
purple goose-grass1548
cheese renning1578
crosswort1578
golden mugget1578
petty mugget1578
lady's bedstraw1585
maid's hair1597
cheese rennet1599
runnet1678
field madder1684
mugweed1690
rondeletia1739
Richardia1755
petty madder1760
madderlen1770
galium1785
Sherardia1785
joint-grass1790
mugwort1796
bluet1818
bedstraw1820
madderwort1845
hundredfold1853
honeywort1863
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 135 Serpillum..Running time: wilde time: Ladies bedstraw [Du. onsere Vrouwen bedstreo].
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 966 There be diuers of the herbes called Ladies Bedstraw, or Cheese renning.
1652 N. Culpeper Eng. Physitian (new ed.) 13/1 Ther is also another sort of Ladies-Bedstraw growing frequently in England, which beareth white Flowers as the other doth yellow.
1784 J. Twamley Dairying Exemplified 119 The Runnet Plant..English Names, are yellow ladies bedstraw or Cheese renning, or petty muguet.
1838 Visitor, or, Monthly Instructor 383 Amongst the hedge flowers, we may notice the large white-flowered lady's bedstraw, (Galium mollugo,) which grows luxuriantly in chalky districts.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 1188 Rubiaceae. This family is represented in this country by a number of species of Galium, the bedstraw, of which the yellow lady's-bedstraw is the most beautiful.
2002 Daily Tel. 8 July 6/4 Ian Hart..who surveyed the flora on the site, found..ladies bedstraw, knapweed, birds foot trefoil and common spotted-orchid.
lady's bower n. [on the reason for the name, compare quots. 1696, 1838] now rare any of various kinds of clematis; esp. traveller's joy, Clematis vitalba.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > climbing, trailing, or creeping shrubs > [noun] > clematis or traveller's joy
white vine?a1425
clematis1578
lady's bower1597
traveller's joy1597
virgin's bower1597
bethwine1609
honesty1640
love1640
maiden's honesty1691
lady bower1715
virgin-bower1725
old man's beard1731
bindwith1797
Robin Hood's feather1820
silver-bush1886
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 740 Ladies Bower is called..in Latine Ambuxum.
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Ladies Bower, (Clematis), a Plant, which..is fit to make Bowers and Arbors, even for Ladies.
1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. Lady's Bower, Clematis.
1838 J. C. Loudon Arboretum et fruticetum Britannicum I. iii. 232 The English name of Ladies' Bower was probably adopted from its suitableness for covering bowers.
1920 F. Darwin Springtime 103 Anyone exploring Seven Leases Lane..will travel in continuous joy, for the lady's bower converts many hundred yards of hedge into continuous beauty.
† lady's comb n. Obsolete rare shepherd's needle, Scandix pecten-veneris.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Umbelliferae (umbellifers) > [noun] > shepherd's needle
pookneedlea1425
shepherd's needle1562
needle chervil1578
wild chervil1578
lady's comb1597
Venus needle1597
Venus's comb1597
pink needle1611
crow-needle1733
needle1793
Adam's Needle1872
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 884 The Latines call it Scandix..of others Acus Veneris, and Acus Pastoris, or Shepheards Needle, wilde Cheruill,..and Ladies Combe.
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) i. at Comb Lady's comb, Pecten Veneris.
ladies' delight n. now chiefly historical heartsease, Viola tricolor.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > pea flowers > violet and allied flowers > violet
apple leafa1200
violetc1330
violac1430
March violet1568
blue violet1656
sweet-scented violet1731
Canada violet1771
ladies' delight1809
dame's rocket1866
1809 Monthly Anthol. & Boston Rev. May 302 True, said the Violet, my flower is not so large as yours..but I am not less beloved by the shepherds; they call me by many names, and all expressive of attachment; sometimes Ladies Delight, and Hearts Ease.
1860 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner (1861) v. 46 Flower-de-luces, and lady's-delights.
1905 Geogr. Jrnl. 25 38 Many old morains were studded..with pansies and with the small flowers of the same genus whose old-fashioned name is ‘ladies' delight’.
2007 Newsday (N.Y.) (Nexis) 15 Apr. g8 What matters most is that they've [sc. pansies] been knocking people out for centuries. Their nicknames include..heartsease.., ladies' delight and kiss-me-at-the-garden-gate.
lady's eardrops n. (also lady's eardrop) now chiefly historical any of several plants having drooping flowers supposed to resemble earrings; esp. fuchsia and (U.S.) †bleeding heart (genus Dicentra).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > fuchsia
fuchsia1753
lady's eardrops1829
konini1867
tree fuchsia-
1829 A. H. Lincoln Familiar Lect. Bot. xxv. 145 The Ladies'-ear-drop, (Fuschia [sic],) is a beautiful exotic. It has a funnel-form calyx, of a brilliant red colour.
1895 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 460/2 The dicentra, or ‘dielytra’ (bleeding-heart or lady's-eardrops we called it), had long, gracefully drooping racemes of bright red-pink flowers.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables i. 1 A little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops.
2006 Seattle Times (Nexis) 6 May They were once nicknamed ‘Lady's Eardrops’ for their resemblance to Victorian earrings.
lady's foxglove n. great mullein, Verbascum thapsus.
ΚΠ
1787 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 2) I. 224 Great White Mullein. High Taper. Cows Lungwort. Ladies Foxglove.
1849 R. Buxton Bot. Guide to Flowering Plants Manch. 30 V. thaspus... Great Mullein. Ladies Fox-glove. High Taper.
1912 Lethbridge (Alberta) Daily Herald 13 July 7/3 Being a citizen of so many countries it has a long list of common names, such as..ice leaf, Jacob's staff, lady's foxglove, and many others.
2003 Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) (Nexis) 3 Apr. e14 Only the botanical name positively identifies it. For instance, Aaron's rod,..Jacob's staff, Jupiter's staff, lady's foxglove,..white mullein and woolly mullein are all Verbascum thapsus.
lady's looking glass n. (also lady's glass) [compare Dutch vrouwenspiegel (1554), post-classical Latin speculum Veneris (see Venus looking-glass n. at Venus n.1 Compounds 2b)] now rare a plant of the genus Legiosa (formerly included in Campanula), probably L. speculum-veneris; cf. Venus looking-glass n. at Venus n.1 Compounds 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > bellflowers
bell-flower1578
bluebell1578
Canterbury bells1578
Coventry bells1578
Coventry Marians1578
Coventry rapes1578
fair-in-sight1578
gauntlet1578
haskwort1578
Marian's violet1578
throatwort1578
lady's looking glass1597
mariet1597
Mercury's violet1597
peach-bells1597
steeple bells1597
uvula-wort1597
Venus looking-glass1597
campanula1664
Spanish bell1664
corn-violet1665
rampion1688
Venus' glass1728
harebell1767
heath-bell1805
witch bell1808
slipperwort1813
meadow-bell1827
greygle1844
platycodon1844
lady's thimble1853
kikyo1884
witches' bells1884
balloon flower1901
fairy thimble1914
mountain bell1923
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 356 Venus Looking glasse..is called..Speculum Veneris, or Ladies glasse.
1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum 1740 Ladies, or Venus looking-glasse.
1682 N. Grew Disc. Colours of Plants v. i. §15 in Anat. Plants 271 The youngest Buds of Ladys-Lookinglass.
1828 Loudon's Gardener's Mag. Mar. 456 Campánula Spéculum..or Ladies' Looking-glass; probably from the shining surface of the seeds.
1884 R. Folkard Plant Lore, Legends & Lyrics 402 Campanula Hybrida (from the resemblance of its expanded flower, set on its elongated ovary, to an ancient metallic mirror on its straight handle) is the Lady's Looking-glass.
1911 C. M. Skinner Myths & Legends Flowers 12 All flowers that bear the name of lady are dedicated to Our Lady the Virgin. Such are the lady's slipper..lady's looking-glass, lady's seal [etc.].
Lady's hair n. [with sense (a) compare Middle Dutch vrouwenhaer (Dutch vrouwenhaar ), Middle Low German vrouwenhār , German Frauenhaar (late 15th cent. or earlier in this sense as frawenhar ), also post-classical Latin capillus Veneris (see Venus hair n. at Venus n.1 Compounds 2a); the French source translated in quot. 1732 does not give any vernacular names for the plant] now rare (a) maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris (cf. Our Lady's hair n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 2b, Venus hair n. at Venus n.1 Compounds 2a); (b) quaking grass, Briza media.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > quaking-grass
Quakers1597
quaking grass1597
shakers1597
dodder-grass1617
brant-barley1633
cow-quakes1633
pearl grass1633
maidenhair grass1640
amourette1702
Lady's hair1732
quiver grass1759
quake1812
rattlesnake grass1814
totter-grass1821
silver shacklea1824
lady's tresses1842
fairy grass1846
earthquakes1851
trembling-grass1853
dadder grass1859
dithering-grass1878
totty-grass1901
shivery grass1926
1551 W. Turner New Herball sig. B iij It [sc. Adiantum]..may be named in English Venus heyre or ladyes heyre.
1732 J. Martyn tr. J. P. de Tournefort Hist. Plants Paris I. 307 Quaking-grass, Cow-quakes, and in some places, Ladies-hair. Common in pastures.
1812 Trans. Entomol. Soc. 1 74 The grass most prevalent on the small limited spot was Briza media (Cow-quaker, or Ladies' hair).
1861 C. F. Hursthouse New Zealand (ed. 2) vi. 86 The Underwood consists of..an equally dense growth of young saplings, mixed with forest shrubs such as the delicate lady's hair.
1912 M. E. Francis Bk. of Grasses 168 Lady's Hair, or Quaking-grass, is not often seen in American fields, yet it has become sparingly naturalized in the Eastern states.
1952 Amer. Fern Jrnl. 42 137 Adiantum (Maidenhair)... Capillus-veneris..Dudder-grass, Lady's Hair, [etc.].
† lady's linen n. Obsolete rare an unidentified plant; perhaps = lady's smock n.
ΚΠ
1763 W. Stukeley Palæographia Sacra 25 Botanists..show a very particular regard to the fair sex..as we may well conclude from so many names they give to plants; ladys fingers, ladys traces, ladys linen,..ladys slipper, etc.
lady's milksile n. chiefly English regional (northern) rare either of the plants lady's smock, Cardamine pratensis, and lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis.
ΚΠ
1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 295 Lady's Milk Sile, (1) Cardamine pratensis..(2) Pulmonaria officinalis.
1955 G. Grigson Englishman's Flora 283 [Local names for lungwort] Lady Mary's tears, Dor; lady's milk-sile (i.e. strainer), Ches; lady's pincushion, Ches, Yks.
† Lady's mint n. [in quot. 1882 after German †Frauenmünze (17th cent. or earlier; now Frauenminze ); contrary to the suggestion in the quot., the German form with -ü- simply reflects a variant of Minze mint n.2)] Obsolete rare spearmint, Mentha spicata; cf. earlier Our Lady's mint n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1882 H. Friend Gloss. Devonshire Plant Names 94 Its German name of Frauenmünze (Lady's Mint, applied also to the Spearmint, with perhaps a pun on the word Münze, which our word ‘mint’ exactly reproduces).
1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Lady's (Our) Mint. Mentha viridis.
lady's navel n. [compare post-classical Latin umbilicus Veneris (see Venus' navel n. at Venus n.1 Compounds 2b)] now English regional (Somerset) and rare navelwort, Umbilicus rupestris.
ΚΠ
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. cxliii. 424 Nauelwoort is called..in English Pennywoort, Wall Pennywoort, Ladies nauell, and Hipwoort.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Escueller, Hipwort, Wall-penniewort, Ladies-nauell (an hearbe).
1884 H. Friend Flowers & Flower Lore I. iii. 96 There is a curious plant (the Kidney-wort or Penny-hat, Cotyledon Umbilicus) which has gained the name of Lady's Navel.
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. Lady's navel, the plant Cotyledon umbilicus.
† Lady's signet n. Obsolete rare = lady's seal n.; cf. earlier Our Lady's signet n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1883 L. H. Grindon Shakspere Flora vii. 131 Lady's tresses, Lady's mantle, Lady's fingers, Lady's signet, are all well known.
1884 E. V. Boyle Days & Hours in Garden viii. 125 Solomon's Seal (Lady's Signet) in many nooks and corners unfolds its curious club-shaped leaf- buds, and all its bells will soon be hung.
lady's thimble n. (also ladies' thimbles) chiefly English regional and Scottish (a) harebell, Campanula rotundifolia; (b) foxglove, Digitalis purpurea.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > bellflowers
bell-flower1578
bluebell1578
Canterbury bells1578
Coventry bells1578
Coventry Marians1578
Coventry rapes1578
fair-in-sight1578
gauntlet1578
haskwort1578
Marian's violet1578
throatwort1578
lady's looking glass1597
mariet1597
Mercury's violet1597
peach-bells1597
steeple bells1597
uvula-wort1597
Venus looking-glass1597
campanula1664
Spanish bell1664
corn-violet1665
rampion1688
Venus' glass1728
harebell1767
heath-bell1805
witch bell1808
slipperwort1813
meadow-bell1827
greygle1844
platycodon1844
lady's thimble1853
kikyo1884
witches' bells1884
balloon flower1901
fairy thimble1914
mountain bell1923
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > foxglove and allied flowers > foxglove
foxglovec1000
London button1552
wine-pot herb1552
finger1562
finger flower1562
lady's glove1575
foxter1623
fox-finger1657
fox1684
bloody finger1789
witch bell1808
fairy fingers1811
fairy thimble1813
dead men's bells1818
witches' thimbles1820
fairy bells1821
fairy glove1841
flap-dock1846
cow-flop1847
pop-glove1847
lady's thimble1853
Scotch mercury1853
poppy1856
fairy petticoats1864
finger root1870
fairy weed1871
pop-dock1878
witches' bells1884
1853 G. Johnston Terra Lindisfarnensis I. 134 Campanula rotundiflora. Blue-Bells: Ladies' Thimbles.
1853 G. Johnston Terra Lindisfarnensis I. 158 Our little girls glove their fingers with them [sc. foxgloves] and call them Ladies' thimbles.
1974 W. Leeds Herefordshire Speech 77 Lady's thimble, harebell.
1982 K. N. Sanecki Discovering Herbs (ed. 3) 31 Foxgloves are a must for the decorative herb garden... These have earned several descriptive country names for the plant: fairy cap, fairy glove, lady's thimble, witch's thimble, [etc.].
lady's thumb n. chiefly U.S. any of various plants of the genus Persicaria; esp. redshank, P. maculata (formerly called Polygonum persicaria).
ΚΠ
1820 A. Eaton Bot. Exercises 126 Persicaria (ladies' thumb, heart-spot knotweed).
1914 J. D. Sawyer How to make Country Place iii. 98 Jewel weed..ladies' slipper and ladies' thumb and smocks and tresses all flung their offerings at our feet, keeping pace with the seasons.
2007 Times (Nexis) 12 Sept. (Features section) 73 A conspicuous plant in these fields is redshank, which is also known as persicaria, or lady's thumb.
† Lady's tree n. Obsolete rare = Our Lady's tree n. at Our Lady n. Compounds 2b.
ΚΠ
1903 N.E.D. at Lady †(Our) Lady's tree.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

ladyv.

Brit. /ˈleɪdi/, U.S. /ˈleɪdi/
Inflections: Past tense and past participle ladied, (rare) ladyed;
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: lady n.
Etymology: < lady n. Compare queen v., earlier king v., lord v., and (with sense 2a) ladyfy v.
1. transitive with it. Of a woman: to act as lady or mistress; to behave in a superior manner. Also in extended use. Cf. lord v. 4b, queen v. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (intransitive)] > domineer
lord1548
to play rex1556
lord1563
to play the rex1570
domineer1591
seniorize1593
lady1600
squire1672
prime1756
rough-ride1835
imperialize1843
1600 N. Breton Pasquils Mad-cap 27 A Iacke will be a Gentleman And mistris Needens Lady it at least.
a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) i. 140 That great seven-hilled City still Ladies it over the Nations of the Earth.
1848 E. C. Grey Aline II. xviii. 277 Sentimentalizing in the glade with a noble lord, and again ladying it in the galleries of his stately castle.
1868 W. Cory Lett. & Jrnls. (1897) 252 My lawn with a single harebell ladying it over the grass.
1969 L. Crompton Shaw Dramatist ix. 142 Eliza is vulgarly keen on lording it—or ladying it—over her neighbors with her windfall of coins.
2001 A. Bissett Boyracers 108 She isn't in English class after lunch. Still ladying it with Lord Livingstone and Mr Melville and John Johnson.
2.
a. transitive. To make a lady of; to raise to the rank of a lady; (also) to address as ‘lady’. Frequently in passive. rare after 17th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > address by name > specific
ladyfy1602
lady1607
lord1633
lordship1740
ladyship1814
good man1846
first-name1913
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > lord or lady > raise to rank [verb (transitive)] > of lady
ladyfy1602
lady1607
1607 J. Marston What you Will i. i. Bv Iaco Nay, sir, her estimation's mounted vp She shall be Ladi'd and sweet Madam'd now.
1614 W. B. in tr. Philosophers Banquet (ed. 2) To Rdr. sig. A3v Widowes with their heapes of hourded gold, That would be Ladied though a month to hold.
a1616 R. Niccols Beggers Ape (1627) sig. B 4 The Asse so vaine appeares, that he will giue His whole estate, ere he vnknighted liue. And for the Goate, we shall haue golden fee Of Female kind, that they may Ladyed bee.
1989 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 2 Oct. This particular lad and his good wife have had their hearts set on being ‘Sirred’ and ‘Ladyed’ around the town.
1999 Toronto Sun (Nexis) 6 June c 15 To our amusement she insists on calling us ‘ladies’ at every approach. (I haven't been ‘ladied’ so much since my days of Branksome Hall parents events).
†b. transitive. To feminize. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > sex and gender > female > effeminacy > [verb (transitive)]
effeminate1531
womanish1561
feminine1583
womanizea1586
hermaphroditize1598
unman1599
woman1611
smock1614
effeminizec1616
evirate1627
disman1628
lady1656
emolliate1802
1656 W. Montagu tr. J. Du Bosc Accomplish'd Woman 121 It is to be feared that Ladies too Chevaliere, are beyond modesty: Men too much Ladyed, are short of Manhood [Fr. & que les hommes trop aiustez ne soient sans courage].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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