lionessn.
/ˈlʌɪənɛs/, /ˈlʌɪənᵻs/, /ˌlʌɪəˈnɛs/, U.S. /ˈlaɪənᵻs/ 1.
a. The female of the lion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Felidae (feline) > [noun] > genus Panthera > panthera leo or lion > female
lioness13..
lionnea1400
13.. Sir Beues (MS. A.) 2465 Stoutliche þe liounesse þan Asailede Beues.
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 637 Stibourne I was as is a Leonesse.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12336 Right be þat water side Lai a leoness [Fairf. liones, Gōtt. leones].
1461 Rolls of Parl. V. 475 The Office of kepyng Lyons, Leonesses and Leopardes, within oure Toure of London.
c1480 (a1400) St. Thecla 210 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 438 Ymang þai bestis ves richt stark & fel a lyonnes.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. ii. 137 The chafed Bore, the mountaine Lionesse . View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 393 They rejoyce Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness . View more context for this quotation
1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 213 The gaunt Lioness, with Hunger bold.
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 46 Lyons do in a very severe manner punish the adulteries of the Lyoness.
1813 Ld. Byron Giaour (ed. 7) 59 Go—when the hunter's hand hath wrung From forest-cave her shrieking young, And calm the lonely lioness.
b. figurative. Applied to persons.
ΚΠ
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) i. xv. 12 Yet wote I wel that leon is he nought ne thou ne myght no leonesse be.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 291 Were I at home At your den sirrah, with your Lionnesse, I would set an Oxe-head to your Lyons hide. View more context for this quotation
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vi. 128 O fair and strong and terrible! Lioness That with your long locks play the Lion's mane!
2. A female celebrity; a woman who is lionized. †Also (Oxford University slang), a lady visitor to a member of the university.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > one who is important > one who is distinguished or notable
palma1525
somebodya1566
Dona1635
great gun1657
lion1715
bahadur1776
tyee1792
lioness1808
top-sawyer1826
roi soleil1880
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [noun] > woman
heroine1587
heroess1612
grande dame1775
lioness1808
shero1836
tycooness1960
society > travel > aspects of travel > traveller > [noun] > visitor > to Oxford > female
lioness1848
1808 W. Scott Let. 19 Jan. (1932) II. 5 Miss Lydia White..is what Oxonians call a lioness of the first order, with stockings nineteen-times-nine dyed blue.
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well I. vii. 171 Bring Mr Springblossom—Winterblossom—and all the lions and lionesses.
1848 J. H. Newman Loss & Gain v. 26 He..had promised him tickets, for some ladies, lionesses of his, who were coming up to the Commemoration.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. II. ix. 158 The whole load,..were on the look-out for lady visitors, profanely called lionesses.
1894 G. M. Fenn In Alpine Valley I. 8 She was received in society and petted as the new lioness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.13..