strongwomann.
/ˈstrɒŋˌwʊmən/, U.S. /ˈstrɔŋˌwʊmən/, /ˈstrɑŋˌwʊmən/ A woman who performs feats of physical strength, esp. competitively or as a form of entertainment (as in a circus). Cf. strongman n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > circus performance > [noun] > performer > specific
strongwoman1753
high-rider1771
horse-rider1854
geek1919
1753 Public Advertiser 30 Aug. The True and Original Italian Female Sampson, or Strong Woman, having had the Honour to perform with Applause and great Satisfaction, before the chief Nobility of England in London,..is determined to go into Germany.
1871 N.Y. Times 19 Sept. 4/7 A certain Atalie, a circus performer, and his female companion, known on the play-bills of O'Brien's Circus as ‘The Strong Woman’.
1952 R. Manning-Sanders Eng. Circus xx. 284 Coming now to the strong man act, let us say at once that ‘strong’ men and ‘strong’ women, are strong men and women.
1975 Listener 28 Aug. 275/3 Mildly humiliating experiences, such as being..manhandled by a circus strongwoman.
2003 G. Kolata Ultimate Fitness ii. 38 Strongwomen were not always viewed as paragons of the female form.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1753