Mary Ellen

English

Noun

Mary Ellen (plural Mary Ellens)

1. (UK, Liverpool, historical) A working-class woman, typically dressed in a shawl, carrying one or more babies, and working as a market trader.

   Coordinate term: Dicky Sam

   • 2010, Tim Parker, Signalman Jones, page 18:

     Young and middle-aged women often caring for large families were known as 'Mary Ellens'. They dressed in a most distinctive fashion with large black shawls draped over their shoulders and fastened at the middle. The shawl formed a large pocket under each arm; often one would hold a baby, the other a bag and perhaps a little food which the Mary Ellen had managed to shoplift. Their men were known as Dicky Sams. […] Typically a Mary Ellen would hock her wedding ring for a barrow and a load of produce. […] At the end of the day she would have enough money to pay for the barrow and retrieve her ring.

   • 2010, Anne Baker, Goodbye Liverpool:

     Luke staggered blindly down the street, almost bumping into an old woman in black with a shawl drawn close about her head and shoulders—a Mary Ellen they called them round here.

   • 2011, Katie Flynn, Rose of Tralee:

     Dad had just laughed when Rose said she wouldn't mind being a Mary Ellen but Mam had tightened her mouth and sniffed.