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majoress

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From major +‎ -ess.

Noun

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majoress (plural majoresses)

  1. (dated) A female major.
    • 1852 October 10, “The British Lion”, “Woman’s Rights’ Women.—Liberty, Equality, Maternity.”, in The Era, volume XV, number 733, page 8:
      Suppose a Coloneless, or a Majoress, or a Captainess received orders to lead her men up to a dangerous post, under a heavy fire, how would she do it?
    • 1853, “The Ladies of the Creation; or, How I Was Cured of Being a Strong-Minded Woman”, in Punch, volume XXIV, London: [] the Office:
      Imagine my feelings when I found that it was composed of the nicest young ladies, in such very becoming uniforms, with a stout old drum-majoress.
    • 1897 April 20, The Chicago Daily Tribune, volume LVI, number 110, page 6:
      But instead, the soldiery will fatten and grow sleek and strong and Commissary Sergeantess Morgan will be promoted and become a Lieutenantess, and then a Captainess, and afterwards a Majoress, and from that to Coloneless, and who knows but some time when she inspects the camp the voice of the sentry at post No. 1 will be heard calling as she approaches: “The Generaless of the Colorado Militia! Turn out the guard!”
    • 1932 March 4, “Kentucky Colonels; And Others”, in The Fresno Morning Republican, volume LXXXI, number 64, Fresno, Calif., page 4:
      If the governor of Kentucky is now making colonels by the wholesale, he is doing it “for a reason.” It is a mere unfortunate incident, for him, that he can not make colonelesses and majoresses. The grip of the appointive power on the women is even stronger than on the men.
    • 1998 August 7, Fred Loader, The Sault Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., page A3:
      SERGEANT-MAJORESS? A British army male sergeant major, who hopes to start the new year as a woman, has been confined to barracks pending an investigation into his revelations to the news media.
    • 2008, Minor Meadows, One Civic Nation, →ISBN, page 62:
      No one else can define these points for a young man, not his Major – present or not present – or his Majoress, not his friends nor his job nor his education or lack thereof.
  2. (dated) The wife of a major.
    • 1799, “The Major’s Courtship and Declaration”, in The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure, volume CIV, London: [] W. Bent, page 259:
      God be praiſed! my worthy lady majoreſs! my dear, fortune major!
    • 1994 August 24, Reading Evening Post, page 15:
      Landlords Arthur and Angie Cascoe and clown Alic Gostonski steady the ribbon for Major and Majoress John and Shirley to officially open the event
    • 1997 October 29, The Chronicle, page 12:
      other guests include: MISS WINSFORD 1997, WINSFORD TOWN MAJOR & MAJORESS
    • 1997 November 13, “Come along to Songs of Praise”, in Burton Mail, number 31,174, page 44:
      Special guests for the evening will be Deputy Major and Majoress, Mr and Mrs Tom Dawn.