2012, Mark Forsyth, Horologicon: A Day’s Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language, New York: Penguin Group:
There is no equivalent phrase for ladies, nor is there likely to be (even though there is, in the OED, an admiraless, meaning either a female admiral or the wife of a male one).
1719 (1926, 2002), Alexander Smith, Edited by Arthur Hayward, A Complete History of the Lives and Robberies of the Most Notorious Highwaymen, Footpads, Shoplifts and Cheats of Both Sexes, Key Writings on Subcultures 1535–1727: Classics from the Underworld, v 3, p 285:
Now Moll being frightened by this disaster, she left off going on the highway any more, and took a house within two doors of the Globe Tavern in Fleet Street, over against the conduit, almost facing Shoe Lane and Salisbury Court, where she dispensed justice among the wrangling tankard-bearers by often exchanging their burden of water for a burden of beer, as far the lighter carriage though not so well portable, and for this kindness she had the command of those water-works, as being admiral-ess of the vessels that sail on folks’ backs (as they have ships in China which sail over dry land) and unlaid themselves in kitchens.
1894, "A Royal Admiraless", The Western Champion, 23 January 1894 (only used in title):
The Czar has conferred upon Queen Olga (consort of the King of Greece), the honorary position of an admiral of the Russian fleet.
1907, "New Royal Yacht", The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania), 4 July 1907:
The famous royal yacht Osborne is now considered too old for the use of the Royal family, and is to be replaced by a new turbine yacht—the Alexandra. She has been built on the Clyde and has been launched this week by Princess Louise, the Duchess of Argyll, who is "Admiraless" of the Western Coast.
1959, "Pin a Rose on Me", The Australian Women's Weekly, 14 January 1959, page 57:
Girl in horn-rimmed spectacles dressed as a musical comedy admiraless says purser not there.
1992 September 4, Mike Levis, “Re: Sexism and Plunging Necklines”, in rec.arts.startrek.misc[1] (Usenet):
Besides, titles should be sex-neutral, since it does not matter whether the professional is male/female/both/neither. Otherwise, we will be forced to invent new words just to please everyone: Doctress Crusher, Counseloress Troi, Lieutenantess Saavik, Chief Engineeress <name>, Admiraless <name>, etc.
1993 September 9, Farokh Mehrshahi, “Re: Ancient Iran: The Achaemenians (I)/Women/Leadership/Zoroastrians.”, in sci.archaeology[2] (Usenet):
Admiraless Artemis was the commander of the naval forces of the Persian Empire during the reign of emperor Khashayar (Xerxes).
1887, "The Flaneur", The Hawaiian Gazette, 17 May 1887:
We were met at the entrance by the Admiral and Admiraless and given the freedom of the house.
1898, "Tasma's Letter", The Clarence and Richmond Examiner, 2 July 1898:
Admiraless Pearson was in grey satin, with some priceless lace on the bodice; […]
1899, "Tasma's Letter", The Clarence and Richmond Examiner, 15 April 1899:
Lady Ranfurly, the "doggy" vice-reine of Maoriland, wore a severely simple black silk, spotted with white: while that silver-haired old lady, the Admiraless, was in black velvet.
1908, "Lady's Letter", The Braidwood Dispatch, 30 September 1908:
Lady Northcote didn't despise finery, although she did wear locally made tweeds occasionally, and our new Admiraless, Lady Poore, is strikingly addicted to adorning her blonde goldenness with effective backgrounds.
1908, Nimitybelle, "Woman's Letter", Napean Times, 21 November 1908:
Our blonde Admiral-ess, Lady Poore, has also been sojourning at the same cosmopolitan hostelry; but it has not transpired where the two famous dames have hobnobbed to.
1909, "All Sorts of People", The New Zealand Free Lance, Volume IX, Issue 455, 20 March 1909, page 4:
On the subject of the coming of our new admiral for the Australasian squadron, the "Bulletin" remarks that "Our new exes., Admiral Bosanquet and his Admiraless, and all the Admiralings, have already received King Edward's blessing, and departed this way."
1911, Beth, "Woman's Letter", Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 3 June 1911:
Interest centred somewhat on Mrs. King-Hall's "At Home," held on Thursday, as this was the first function at Admiralty House since the incoming of the new Admiral. Sydney has already taken to the Admiraless and her young daughter.
1927, Galveston Daily News, Jan. 8, Galveston, Texas, p 3:
Large, unwieldy glasses were forced upon the long-suffering Camp Hughes men to drink to the admiral, the admiraless and others.
1983, James Lee-Milne, Caves of Ice: Diaries 1946–1947, Chatto & Windus (1983), →ISBN, page 103:
The Admiral, Admiraless and Miss P[aterson] came down in the afternoon. I introduced the Admiral to Lord Sackville.