Lady sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Lady sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1903, rev. 2024. Lady sb. Forms: 1 hlǽfdíʓe, hlǽfdí, hlǽf-, hléfdiʓe, Northumb. hláfdía, Mercian hláfdíe, 2–4 lefdi, 3 læfdi, lævedi, lef(e)di(e, lafvedi, leafdi, leivedi, leofdi, levede, Orm. laffdiʓ, 3–4 lavedi, levedi, -y, 4 laidi, -y, lavede, laydy, ledy, lefdye, levdi, -y, levedie, levidi, lhevedi, -y, livedi, 4–5 lavedy, lefdy, lede, 4–7 ladi(e, -ye, (pl. ladise), 6, 9 Sc. leddy, 9 arch. ladye, 4– lady. [OE. hlǽfdíʓe wk. fem.; f. hláf bread, LOAF + root dĭg- to knead: see DOUGH.

1   Like the corresponding masc. designation hláford, LORD, the word is not found outside Eng. (the Icel. lafði is adopted from ME.). The etym. above stated is not very plausible with regard to sense; but the attempts to explain hlǽfdíʓe as a deriv. of hláford are unsatisfactory: the fem. suffix in OE. is -icʓe, not -iʓe, and the umlaut in the first syllable is difficult to explain on this supposition.

2   The OE. ǽ, being regularly shortened in ME. before two consonants, yielded regularly ă and ĕ according to dialect. The ME. lĕfdi, lĕvdi, is represented by Sc. leddy. The other forms lăfdi (= *lavdi) became lăvedi (3 syllables), and by regular development lăvedi; afterwards the e became silent and the v was dropped; hence the mod.Eng. form.

3   The genitive sing. (OE. hlǽfdíʓan) became by regular phonetic change in ME. coincident in form with the nom.; hence certain syntactical combs. have the appearance of proper compounds, as lady-bird, Lady-day, Lady-chapel.]

4   I.  As a designation for a woman.

5   † 1.  A mistress in relation to servants or slaves; the female head of a household. Obs.

6   The 18th-c. instances in brackets seem to represent a redevelopment of this sense from sense 6 a.

7 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, cxxii[i]. 2. Swe swe eʓan menenes hondum hlafdian hire.

8 a. 1000.  Laws of Penitents, ii. § 4, in Thorpe, Anc. Laws, II. 184. ʓif hwylc wif … hire wifman swingð & heo þurh þa swingle wyrð dead … fæste seo hlæfdiʓe .vii. ʓear.

9 a. 1100.  Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 310/26. Materfamilias, hiredes moder oððe hlæfdiʓe.

10 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 4. Ant þeos riwle nis bute vorto serui þe oðer. Þe oðer is ase lefdi: þeos is ase þuften.

11 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 967. Forð siðen ȝhe bi abram slep, Of hire leuedi nam ȝhe no kep.

12 1382.  Wyclif, Ps. cxxii[i]. 2. As the eȝen of the hondmaide, in the hondis of hir ladi. Ibid., Prov. xxx. 23. Bi an hand womman, whan she were eir of hir ladi.

13 [1718.  Freethinker, No. 17. 116. Her Maid … lisps out to me that her Lady is gone to Bed.

14 a. 1745.  Swift, Direct. Servants, iii. (1745), 50. When you are sent on a Message, deliver it in your own Words … not in the Words of your Master or Lady.]

15   2.  A woman who rules over subjects, or to whom obedience or feudal homage is due; the feminine designation corresponding to lord. Now poet. or rhetorical, exc. in lady of the manor. † In OE. used spec. (instead of cwén, QUEEN) as the title of the consort of the king of Wessex (afterwards of England).

16 a. 1000.  O. E. Chron., an. 918. Her Æðelflæd forðferde Myrcena hlæfdiʓe.

17 1038–44.  Charter of Ælfwine, in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 76. Eadweard cinge and Ælfʓyfu seo hlefdiʓe, and Eadsiʓe arcebisceop.

18 c. 1205.  Lay., 6310. Bruttes nemnede þa laȝen æfter þar lafuedi.

19 1382.  Wyclif, Isa. xlvii. 7. Thou agreggedist the ȝoc gretli, and seidest, In to euermor I shal ben a ladi.

20 1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 129. Þe laste lady of Cartage hadde riȝt suche a manere ende as Dydo þe firste lady hadde.

21 c. 1450.  Merlin, 362. ‘And also,’ quod she, ‘I am lady of the reame cleped the londe susteyne.’

22 1481.  Caxton, Myrr., II. ii. 65. Asia the grete … taketh the name of a quene that somtyme was lady of this regyon and was callid Asia.

23 1562.  Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, i. Wks. 1888, I. 10. We suspect nocht zoure gentle humanitie,… to be offendit with vs zour pure anis, bot our Souerane Ladyis fre liegis.

24 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. Introd. 4. Great Ladie of the greatest Isle.

25 c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 43 (1810), 50. Beatrix de Vallibus was lady of this land.

26 1633.  Milton, Arcades, 105. Bring your Flocks, and live with us, Here ye shall have greater grace, To serve the Lady of this place.

27 1711.  Act 9 Anne, in Lond. Gaz., No. 4870/1. Any Lord or Lady of a Manor might appoint several Game-keepers.

28 1832.  Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., 97. No marvel, sovereign lady: in fair field Myself for such a face had boldly died.

29   † b.  transf. and fig. Obs.

30 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 176. Þet fleschs wolde awiligen & bicomen to ful itowen touward hire lefdi, ȝif hit nere ibeaten.

31 1382.  Wyclif, Isa. xlvii. 5. Thou shalt no more be clepid the ladi of reumes [1611 the Ladie of kingdomes].

32 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Auspex, Musa auspice … the ladie of learnyng beyng our guide.

33 1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xvi. 265. This Spirit of ours … was free of it selfe, and Ladie of the bodie, and therefore could not receyue her first corruption from the bodie.

34 1591.  Sparry, trans. Cattan’s Geomancie, B 2 b. By the influence of the Sunne she [the Eagle] hath a marueilous property, which is, to be Lady of all other birdes.

35 1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 107. Rome, once the Lady of the world.

36 a. 1610.  Healey, Epictetus (1636), 79. Beware that thou hurt not thy minde, the Lady of thy workes, and thine actions governesse.

37   c.  A woman who is the object of chivalrous devotion; a mistress, ‘lady-love.’

38 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 811. Many a man hath love ful dere y-bought, Twenty winter that his lady wiste, That never yet his lady mouth he kiste.

39 1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVIII. (Percy Soc.), 83. You are my lady, you are my masteres, Whome I shall serve with all my gentylnes.

40 a. 1547.  Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 20. A praise of his loue: wherein he reproueth them that compare their Ladies with his.

41 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 436. What did you whisper in your Ladies eare?

42 1633.  T. James, Voy., 71. This euening being May euen; we … chose Ladies, and did ceremoniously weare their names in our Caps.

43 1867.  Tennyson, Window, 120. Never a line from my lady yet! Is it ay or no?

44 a. 1881.  Rossetti, House of Life, viii. My lady only loves the heart of Love.

45   3.  spec. The Virgin Mary. (Usually Our Lady = L. Domina Nostra, and equivalents in all mod. European langs.) † Our Lady’s bands: pregnancy.

46 a. 900.  Cynewulf, Crist, 284. Cristes þeʓnas cweþað ond singað þæt þu sie hlæfdiʓe halʓum meahtum wuldorweorudes.

47 c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 17. He wes iboren of ure lefdi Zeinte Marie.

48 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Maidene maide and heuene quen and englene lafdi.

49 c. 1200.  Ormin, 2127. Ure deore laffdiȝ wass Þurrh Drihhten nemmnedd Marȝe.

50 c. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 160. Ilke day deuotely Herd scho messe of our Lefdye.

51 c. 1410.  Love, Bonavent. Mirr., ii. 28 (Gibbs MS.). Þan come þei forþermore to þe house of oure lady cosyn Elizabeth.

52 1513.  More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 761. By Gods blessed Ladie (that was euer his othe).

53 1553.  Becon, Reliques of Rome (1563), 233*. Ye shall also praye … for the women that bene in our Ladyes bandes and with childe.

54 a. 1555.  Articles imputed to Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1309/2. No doubt our lady was, through the goodnes of God, a good & a gratious creature.

55 1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. v. 63. O Gods Lady deare, Are yow so hot? marrie come vp I trow.

56 1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xi. On the morning of our high festival, our Lady’s day, it is usual for such as devote themselves to heaven to receive the veil.

57 1832.  Tennyson, Mariana, iii. Low on her knees herself she cast, Before Our Lady murmur’d she.

58   † b.  Our, the Lady in March, or Lent: the Annunciation, March 25. Our Lady in Harvest: the Assumption, Aug. 15. Our Lady in December: the Conception, Dec. 8. (See LADY-DAY.)

59 c. 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9080. Vr leuedy [v.rr. leuedi dai, lefdi day] in decembre.

60 c. 1483.  Caxton, Dialogues (E.E.T.S.), 28/21. Our ladye in marche. Ibid., 28/23. Our lady in heruest.

61 1608.  Acc. Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 213. A great frost from Martinmas till almost ye Lady in lent.

62   † c.  An image of the Virgin Mary. Obs.

63 1563.  Homilies, II. Agst. Idolatry, III. (1859), 225. Christophers, Ladies, and Mary Magdalenes, and other Saints.

64 1606.  Arraignmn. late Traitors, D 1 b. Their [Papists’] kissing of babies, their kneeling to wodden Ladies.

65   4.  A woman of superior position in society, or to whom such a position is conventionally or by courtesy attributed. Originally, the word connoted a degree equal to that expressed by lord; but it was (like its synonyms in all European langs.) early widened in application, while the corresponding masc. term retained its restricted comprehension. In mod. use lady is the recognized fem. analogue of gentleman, and is applied to all women above a loosely defined and variable, but usually not very elevated standard of social position. Often used (esp. in ‘this lady’) as a more courteous synonym for ‘woman,’ without reference to the status of the person spoken of. See also FINE LADY, YOUNG LADY.

66   As the traditional association of lady with lord still survives, the former is a title of ostensibly higher dignity than gentleman. Hence, and not directly as the result of the sentiment of gallantry, the customary order of words in ‘ladies and gentlemen.’

67 c. 1205.  Lay., 24715. Alle þa lafdies leoneden ȝeond walles to bihalden þa duȝoðen.

68 c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 9. Aske þes cwenes, þes riche cuntasses, þes modie lafdis.

69 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3280. Mony was þe vayre leuedi þat icome was þer to.

70 1340.  Ayenb., 213. Þe greate lhordes and þe greate lheuedyes.

71 c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2968. Whan þat loveli ladi hade listened his wordes … for ioye sche wept.

72 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 335. Ylyke a lusarde with a lady visage.

73 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 898. A companye of ladies … clad in clothes blake.

74 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, F vj. A Beuy of Ladies.

75 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 268. Labouryng & seruyng for these two ladyes, Lya & Rachel.

76 c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S. T. S.), vi. 27. A lord to lufe a silly lass, A leddy als, for luf, to tak Ane propir page.

77 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 192. What Lady is that same?

78 1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxiv. (Arb.), 296. For Ladies and women to weepe … it is nothing vncomely.

79 1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Knt. Burn. Pestle, III. iv. To punish all the sad enormities Thou hast committed against ladies gent.

80 1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., in Sylva, etc. (1729), 190. Keep your Wall and Palisade-Trees … sharp’d like a Lady’s Fan.

81 1674.  Dryden, Epil. Misc. (1685), 289. A Country Lip may have the Velvet touch, Tho’ She’s no Lady, you may think her such.

82 1702.  Addison, Dial. Medals, i. Wks. 1721, I. 438. We find too on Medals the representations of Ladies that have given occasion to whole volumes on the account only of a face.

83 1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 246. This is giving the ladies’ reason, ‘It is so because it is.’

84 1791.  Cowper, Retired Cat, 38. Linen … such as merchants introduce From India, for the ladies’ use.

85 1807–8.  W. Irving, Salmag., xviii. (1860), 414. It appears to be an established maxim … that a lady loses her dignity when she condescends to be useful.

86 1886.  Miss Mulock, K. Arthur, i. 11. Poor lady!… But if she were a real lady she would never be an opera-singer.

87 1888.  Harper’s Mag., Nov., 960/1. She was born, in our familiar phrase, a lady, and from the beginning, throughout a long life, she was surrounded with perfect ease of circumstance.

88   b.  vocatively. (a) In the singular, now confined to poetic or rhetorical use. (b) In the plural, the ordinary term of oral address to a number of women, without reference to their rank; corresponding to ‘Madam’ in the singular.

89   The uneducated, esp. in London, still often use ‘Lady’ in the sing. as a term of address for ‘Madam’ or ‘Ma’am.’

90 c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 519. Lady, graunte us now good fame.

91 c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 1889. Noe, certes, lady, it is not I.

92 1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 285. Pedr. Come Lady, come, you haue lost the heart of Signior Benedicke.

93 1634.  Milton, Comus, 277. What chance, good Lady, hath bereft you thus? Ibid., 319. I can conduct you, Lady, to a low But loyal cottage.

94 1808.  [see GENTLEMAN 4 b].

95 1819.  Shelley, Cenci, V. ii. 172. Know you this paper, Lady?

96   † c.  Lady errant: a humorous feminine analogue of ‘knight errant.’

97 a. 1643.  Cartwright (title), The Lady Errant.

98 1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., VI. vii. 364. Conscientious Catholicks conceived these Lady Errants so much to deviate from feminine modesty … that they zealously decried their practice.

99   d.  Applied to fairies.

100 1628.  Milton, Vacation Exerc., 60. At thy birth The Faiery Ladies daunc’t upon the hearth.

101 a. 1650.  K. Arthur’s Death, 235, in Furnivall, Percy Folio, I. 506. He see a barge from the land goe, & hearde Ladyes houle & cry.

102   e.  Phraseological expressions. Lady of the lake, (a) the designation of a personage in the Arthurian legends, Nimue or Vivien; † (b.) a nymph; † (c) a kept mistress. Lady of pleasure, a courtesan, whore. Lady of easy virtue, a woman whose chastity is easily assailable. Lady of the frying-pan, a jocular term for a cook. Lady of Babylon, of Rome, abusive terms for the Roman Catholic Church, with reference to the ‘scarlet woman’ of the Apocalypse. † Lady of hono(u)r, † lady of presence, a lady who holds the position of attendant to a queen or princess (cf. maid of hono(u)r); similarly lady of the bedchamber, lady-in-waiting.

103 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. xxv. 73. What damoysel is that? said Arthur. That is the lady of the lake, said Merlyn.

104 1530.  Palsgr., 237/1. Lady of presence, damoiselle dhonneur.

105 1536.  Hen. VIII., Lett., 10 Jan., in Halliwell, Lett. Eng. Kings (1846), I. 352. At the interment [of Katharine of Arragon] it is requisite to have the presence of a good many ladies of honour.

106 1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., April, 120. They bene all Ladyes of the lake behight [E. K. Gloss, Ladyes of the lake be Nymphes].

107 1625.  Massinger, New Way, II. i. Thou shalt dine … With me, and with a lady. Marrall. Lady? What lady? With the Lady of the Lake, or Queen of Fairies?

108 1631.  High Commission Cases (Camden), 187. The Lady Willoughby … now one of the Ladyes of Honour attendant upon the Queene.

109 1637.  Shirley (title), The Lady of Pleasure.

110 c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 447. He hath no such cloisters or houses for ladies of pleasure.

111 1678.  Butler, Hud., III. i. 869. The difference Marriage makes ’Twixt Wives, and Ladies of the Lakes.

112 1708.  Motteux, Rabelais (1737), V. 217. Kept-Wenches, Kind-hearted-Things, Ladies of Pleasure, by what … Names soever dignified.

113 1785.  Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Lady of easy virtue, a woman of the town, a prostitute.

114 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, III. x. ¶ 4. The lady of the frying-pan … was assisted in her cookery by the coachman.

115 1809.  [see EASY a. 12].

116 1858.  Trollope, Barchester T., xx. 150. The ordeal through which he had gone, in resisting the blandishments of the lady of Rome. Ibid. (1860), Castle Richmond, I. v. 83. The pope, with his lady of Babylon, his college of cardinals [etc.].

117 1862.  Mrs. H. Wood, Mrs. Hallib., II. xii. 205. Making the avowal as freely as though he had proclaimed that his mother was lady-in-waiting to the Queen.

118   5.  A woman whose manners, habits and sentiments have the refinement characteristic of the higher ranks of society.

119 1861.  Geo. Eliot, Silas M., I. xi. 185. She had the essential attributes of a lady—high veracity, delicate honour in her dealings, deference to others, and refined personal habits.

120 1880.  C. E. Norton, Ch-building Mid. Ages, ii. 40. Her [Venice’s] gentlemen were the first in Europe, and the first modern ladies were Venetian.

121   6.  As an honorific title.

122   a.  A prefix forming part of the customary designation of a woman of rank. Also in My lady, an appellation used (chiefly by inferiors) in speaking to or of those who are designated by this prefix.

123   In the 15–16th c., The (or My) Lady was prefixed to the Christian name of a female member of the royal family, as ‘Princess’ is now. With regard to the use of the prefix in the titles of the nobility of the British Isles, usage has varied greatly at different times, but the following rules are now established: (1) In speaking of a marchioness, countess, viscountess or baroness (whether she be such in her own right, by marriage or by courtesy), the prefix Lady is a less formal substitute for the specific designation of rank, which is not used in conversational address: thus ‘the Marchioness (of) A.’ is spoken to, and informally spoken of, as ‘Lady A.’ (2) The daughters of dukes, marquises and earls have Lady (more formally, e.g., on a superscription, The Lady) prefixed to their Christian names. (3) The wife of the holder of a courtesy title in which Lord is prefixed to a Christian name is known as ‘(The) Lady John B.’ (4) The wife of a baronet or other knight (‘Sir John C.’) is commonly spoken of as ‘Lady C.,’ the strictly correct appellation ‘Dame Mary C.’ being confined to legal documents, sepulchral monuments, and the like.

124 c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, Ded. 1. Unto the right noble puyssant & excellent pryncesse, my redoubted lady, my lady Margarete, duchesse of Somercete.

125 1509.  in Fisher’s Wks. (1876), 288. The moost excellent pryncesse my lady the kynges graundame.

126 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 238 b. The Ladye Marques Dorset.

127 1555.  Grimald, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 113. An Epitaph of the ladye Margaret Lee.

128 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. Stage direct., Enter the Coarse of Henrie the sixt … Lady Anne being the Mourner.

129 1599.  Broughton’s Lett., vii. 21. Who selected him … to bee the Lady Margarets Reader.

130 a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XI. § 235. The general’s wife, the lady Fayrefax.

131 1694.  Congreve, Double Dealer, Dram. Pers., Lord Touchwood,… Sir Paul Plyant … Knight … Lady Touchwood … Lady Plyant.

132 a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, I. (1724), I. 19. Lady Margaret Dowglas was the child so provided for. Ibid., III. 353. The Lady Bellasis, the widow of the Lord Bellasis’s son.

133 1719.  Prior (title), Verses spoken to Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles Harley, Countess of Oxford.

134 1766.  Gentl. Mag., XXXVI. 103/1. Lady North,—of a son. Ibid. Lady Anne Conway, eldest daughter to the Earl of Hertford.

135 1833.  Tennyson (title), Lady Clara Vere de Vere. Ibid. (1864), Aylmer’s F., 190. My lady’s Indian kinsman.

136 1870.  Disraeli, Lothair, II. xiv. 148. Lothair danced with Lady Flora Falkirk, and her sister, Lady Grizell, was in the same quadrille.

137   b.  Prefixed to the names of goddesses, allegorical personages, personifications, etc. Obs. or arch.

138 c. 1205.  Lay., 1198. Leafdi Diana: leoue Diana heȝe Diana, help me to neode.

139 c. 1425.  Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 239. My lady Diane, the goddesse.

140 1508.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 74. Thare saw I … The fresch Aurora, and lady Flora schene. Ibid., 210. A wofull prisonnere To lady Beautee.

141 1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 160. If that same worthye princesse lady money did not alone stop up the waye betwene vs and our lyuing.

142 1566.  Drant, Horace’s Sat., I. iii. B vj. Thus graunte you must, that feare of wronge set ladye lawe in forte.

143 1597.  J. Payne, Royal Exch., 20. [Those] that make so small accowmpt of religion and good lyfe, otherwyse then of there belly God and ladie pleasure.

144 a. 1625.  Boys, Wks. (1629), 487. Ladie Venus dwels at the signe of the Iuie bush.

145   c.  Prefixed to titles of honor or designations of dignified office, as an added mark of respect. Obs. or arch. Lady Mayoress: see MAYORESS.

146 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prioress’ Prol., 13. My lady Prioresse.

147 1530.  Palsgr., 237/1. Lady maystres, dame dhonnevr; govuernante.

148 1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. iii. 169. You shall haue two noble Partners with you: the old Duchesse of Norfolke, and Lady Marquess Dorset.

149 1638.  Ford, Fancies, IV. ii. Are you not enthroned The lady-regent?

150 1710.  Shaftesb., Adv. Author, III. ii. 167. The Method of expostulating with his Lady-Governess.

151 1721.  Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. i. 3. The Lady Mary, the Kings daughter, appointed for the lady godmother.

152 1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., 8 Aug. The lady-directress of the ball … had her conveyed to another room.

153 1820.  Scott, Abbot, xii. ‘They call me Lady Abbess, or Mother at the least, who address me,’ said Dame Bridget.

154   d.  Prefixed to designations of relationship, by way of respectful address or reference. (Cf. F. Madame votre mère, etc.) arch.

155 15[?].  Roberte the Deuyll, 522, in Hazlitt, E. P. P., I. 239. And when he sawe hys mother goynge, He sayde, alas, Lady mother, speake with me.

156 1528.  More, Dial., III. xii. Wks. 227/2. But were I Pope. By my soule quod he, I would ye wer, & my lady your wife Popesse too.

157 1602.  2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. vi. 983. A Turkey Pye, or a piece of Venison, which my Lady Grand-mother sent me.

158 1628.  Ford, Lover’s Mel., IV. ii. Your business with my lady-daughter toss-pot?

159 1655.  Dryden (title), Lines in a Letter to his Lady Cousin Honor Driden.

160 1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XV. v. Answer for yourself, lady cousin.

161 1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, VI. xxiii. But that my ladye-mother there Sits lonely in her castle-hall.

162 1820.  W. Tooke, trans. Lucian, I. 730. As to your lady-bride, I envy not her beauty.

163 1855.  Tennyson, Maud, I. iv. 15. I bow’d to his lady-sister as she rode by.

164   7.  Wife, consort. Now, as in the original use, chiefly restricted to instances in which the formal title of ‘Lady’ is involved in the relationship. In the 18th and the former half of the 19th c. the wider use was prevalent in polite society, but is now regarded as vulgar, esp. in the phrase your good lady.

165 c. 1205.  Lay., 2864. Swa þe king haihte, to wrðscipe his læfdi.

166 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 517. Sire þere sall borne be a barne of þi blithe lady.

167 1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, cxxxv. M v b. A grete lady, which was lady to a baron.

168 1613.  Organ Specif. Worcester Cathedral, Sr Jo Packinton & his Lady.

169 1686.  S. Sewall, Diary, 23 Sept. Gov. Bradstreet is gone with his lady to Salem.

170 a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, II. (1724), I. 338. About the end of May, Duke Lauderdale came down with his Lady in great pomp.

171 1756–7.  trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 7. The lady of a noble Venetian … is indulged with greater freedom in this respect.

172 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), II. 98. (Sword) The Marquis … supported his lady.

173 c. 1796.  T. Twining, Trav. Amer. (1894), 87. She was granddaughter of Mrs. Washington, the President’s lady.

174 1796.  Lamb, Lett. to Coleridge, Corr. & Wks. 1868, I. 11. It has endeared us more than any thing to your good lady.

175 1796.  Jane Austen, Pride & Prej. (1833), 1. ‘My dear Mr. Bennet,’ said his lady to him one day, ‘have you heard’ [etc.]. Ibid., Sense & Sens. (1879), 1. By a former marriage, Mr. Dashwood had one son; by his present lady, three daughters.

176 1825.  Waterton, Wand. S. Amer., IV. ii. 313. The unfortunate governor and his lady lost their lives.

177 1841.  L’pool Mercury, 11 June, 195/4. On Thursday, the 3d instant, the lady of Thomas William Phillips, Esq. … of a daughter…. On Monday last, at Everton, the lady of Thomas Shaw, Esq., of a daughter.

178 1841.  C. Anderson, Anc. Models, 101. An organ was lately given by the estimable lady of the Rev. J. B. Stonehouse, in the Isle of Axholme, to the church of Owston.

179 1845.  Stephen, Comm. Laws Eng. (1874), II. 608. As where it [i.e., a peerage] is limited to a man and the heirs male of his body by Elizabeth, his present lady.

180 1860.  O. W. Holmes, Elsie V., vii. (1861), 71. ‘How’s your health, Colonel Sprowle.’ ‘Very well, much obleeged to you. Hope you and your good lady are well.’

181   II.  In transferred applications.

182   † 8.  A queen at chess. Obs.

183 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxii. 478. The duk rycharde … helde in his hande a lady of yvery, wherwyth he wolde have gyven a mate to yonnet.

184   9.  A kind of butterfly; now painted lady.

185 1611.  Florio, Papiglione, any kind of Ladie or butter-flie.

186 1846.  Embleton, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 171. Not a single specimen has been observed of the Peacock, Wood Lady, Wall Brown, or the Dark Green Aglaia.

187 1893.  Earl Dunmore, Pamirs, I. 197. This ‘painted lady’ was the name by which a certain gaudy butterfly was known.

188   10.  The calcareous structure in the stomach of a lobster, serving for the trituration of its food; fancifully supposed to resemble the outline of a seated female figure.

189 1704.  Swift, Batt. Bks., Misc. (1711), 253. Like the Lady in a Lobster.

190 1796.  J. Adams, Diary, 28 July, Wks. 1851, III. 421. To-day, at dinner, seeing lobsters at table, I inquired after the Lady, and Mrs. B. rose and went into the kitchen to her husband, who sent in the little lady herself, in the cradle in which she resides.

191 1804.  Farley, Lond. Art Cookery (ed. 10), 47. Take out their bodies, and what is called the lady.

192   11.  The smallest size of Welsh (and Cornish) roofing slates. (Cf. COUNTESS, DUCHESS.)

193 1803.  Sporting Mag., XX. 109. He had delivered to the defendant eight thousand Countesses and eleven thousand Ladies.

194 1859.  Gwilt, Archit., II. ii. (ed. 4), 501. Ladies are generally about 15 in. long, and about 8 in. wide.

195 1893.  Brown, Opening Rly. to Delabole, xxiii. We’ve countess, duchess … doubles, ladies, slabs, and flags.

196   12.  A female hound. (Cf. 14 b, and lady pack in 16.)

197 1861.  Whyte-Melville, Mkt. Harb., x. 80. Nineteen couple are they of ladies, with the cleanest of heads and necks.

198   13.  Naut. (See quots.)

199 1711.  W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 43. A Lady’s Hole, or Place for the Gunner’s small stores, which Stores are looked after by one they call a Lady, who is put in by turns to keep the Gun-room clean.

200 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Lady of the Gun-room, a gunner’s mate, who takes charge of the after-scuttle, where gunners’ stores are kept.

201   III.  In Combination.

202   14.  appositively (quasi-adj.). a. Prefixed, with the sense ‘female,’ to designations of employment, office, function, etc., which are ordinarily applied to men, as in lady actor, citizen, clerk, critic, doctor, farmer, friend, guest, page, president, reader, singer, superintendent, tyrant, etc.

203 1684.  Otway, Atheist, I. i. Wks. 1728, II. 29. The Lady-Tyrant of your Enchanted Castle.

204 a. 1687.  Waller, Wks. (1729), 222. Prologue for the Lady-Actors.

205 1694.  Congreve, Double Dealer, Epil. The Lady Criticks who are better Read, Enquire if Characters are nicely bred.

206 1775.  Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary (1889), II. 109. She has a fine voice, and has great merit, for a lady singer.

207 1784.  R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 9. Instead of hunting for … a wealthy widow, or a rich lady citizen, he retired to his country seat.

208 1818.  Shelley, Rosalind & Helen, 91. Bring home with you That sweet strange lady-friend.

209 1826.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. II. (1863), 428. A good sort of lady-farmer.

210 1827.  G. Darley, Sylvia, 110. Or any lady-page that soothes A steed whose neck she hardly smoothes.

211 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxx. If our observant lady readers can deduce any satisfactory inferences from these facts, we beg them by all means to do so.

212 1848.  Blackw. Mag., Aug., 186. Miss Martineau is lady-president of the gossip school.

213 1860.  G. H. K., in Vac. Tour., 137. These hinds … are the lady-superintendents of an educational institution for young stags.

214 1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 333. The entertainment of the first lady-guest ever seen at Rainbar.

215 1891.  Argus (Melbourne), 7 Nov., 9/2. The ‘lady doctor’ has become an institution in Victoria.

216 1894.  Daily News, 28 March, 3/2. To the lady clerks is allotted half the ledger keeping.

217   b.  Used jocularly for ‘female’ with names of animals.

218 1820.  Shelley, Œdipus, II. i. 157. Gentlemen swine, and gentle lady-pigs.

219 1832.  W. Irving, Alhambra, II. 33. The very beetle woos its lady-beetle in the dust.

220 1887.  G. R. Sims, Mary Jane’s Mem., 37. The dog … had five beautiful puppies afterwards, it being a lady-dog.

221 1894.  G. R. O’Reilly, in Pop. Sci. Monthly, Nov., 77. One … night an old lady cobra surprised me by depositing a number of living young ones.

222   c.  Prefixed to designations of employment usually associated with inferiority of social rank, to denote that the person is or claims to be regarded as a lady. Cf. lady-help (see 16 below).

223 1811.  L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., I. 94. Some lady-nurses … forego not an hour’s amusement.

224 1873.  St. Paul’s Mag., II. 233. He, a dignified ecclesiastic butler, with a perfect palate for port, to be levelled with a pert little chit of a ‘lady-housekeeper.’

225 1898.  Advt., in Westm. Gaz., 11 July, 2/3. Lady-Cook, also Lady-Parlourmaid wanted … lady-nurse and man kept.

226   15.  Obvious combinations: a. attributive (pertaining to a lady or ladies), as lady-bower, -chamber; (characteristic of or befitting a lady), as lady-air, -fingers, -look, -slang, -trifle; (consisting of ladies), as lady portion, train, world. b. similative, as lady-clad, -faced, -handed, -looking, -soft adj. c. instrumental, as lady-laden adj.

227 a. 1637.  B. Jonson, Underwoods, Eupheme, ix. She had a mind as calm as she was fair, Not lost or troubled with light *lady-air.

228 1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. xv. 253. What, I say, had I to do, to take upon me lady-airs, and resent?

229 1832.  J. Bree, St. Herbert’s Isle, 19. The burly thane … oft in *lady-bower would long remain.

230 1853.  Merivale, Rom. Rep., xi. (1867), 323. This tender nursling of a patrician *lady-chamber was climbing mountains on foot.

231 1847.  Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 119. But while they talk’d, above their heads I saw The feudal warrior *lady-clad.

232 c. 1610.  Sir J. Melvil, Mem. (Bannatyne), 120. He wes very lusty, berdles, and *lady facit.

233 1831.  Howitt, Seasons (1837), 317. Rose-wood desks, where *lady-fingers pen lady-lays.

234 1728.  Ramsay, Archers diverting themselves, 28. The *lady-handed lad.

235 1887.  Times (weekly ed.), 24 June, 4/4. Every balcony … was *‘lady-laden.’

236 1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 4. I have never seen any one in her station who possessed so thoroughly that undefinable charm, the *lady-look.

237 1834.  H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xx. (1857), 291. So *lady-looking a person, and an heiress to boot.

238 1866.  Whittier, Marg. Smith’s Jrnl., Prose Wks. 1889, I. 11. His daughter, Rebecca, is just about my age, very tall and lady-looking.

239 1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 165. He was astonished at the beauty and grace of the *lady portion of the guests.

240 1821.  ‘P. Atall’ (title), The Hermit in Philadelphia, Second Series, containing some Account of Young Belles and Coquettes … Dandy-Slang and *Lady-Slang.

241 1607.  Markham, Caval., II. (1617), 15. This Cauezan I haue seen very good hors-men vse, but with such a temperate and *Lady-soft a hand, that [etc.].

242 1717.  E. Fenton, Poems, 111. The *Lady-Train dispers’d, the pensive Form Of Agamemnon came.

243 1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. ii. 165. I some *Lady trifles haue reseru’d Immoment toyes.

244 1775.  Mad. D’Arblay, Early Diary, 22 Nov. Being herself a performer of reputation in the *lady world, she [etc.].

245   16.  Special comb. in many cases orig. syntactical uses of lady genitive, in sense 3): Lady-altar, an altar in a Lady-chapel; lady-apple, a kind of small apple, with a red waxy-looking skin; valued chiefly for its ornamental appearance; also attrib.; Lady-bell (also Our Lady bell), a bell for ringing the Angelus; lady-bug dial. and U.S. = LADY-BIRD; lady-chair, a seat formed by the hands of two persons standing facing each other: each person grasping his own left wrist with his right hand, and the right wrist of the opposite person with his left hand, or vice versa; lady-clock = LADY-BIRD; lady-court, the court of a lady of a manor (in mod. Dicts.); lady-crab, a name given variously to certain species of crabs remarkable for elegance of coloring or form; (Our) Lady eve, even, the day before a Lady-day; lady-fluke (see quot.); lady-fly = LADY-BIRD; lady-fowl, a name for the smew or the widgeon; lady-help, a woman engaged to perform domestic service on the understanding that she is to be considered and treated by her employers as a lady; lady-killer humorous, a man who is credited with dangerous power of fascination over women; so lady-killing sb. and adj.; Lady-meat (also Lady’s meat), alms given in Our Lady’s honor arch.; lady-monger contemptuous, a ‘lady’s man’; lady-pack, a pack of female hounds; † lady-pear, some variety of pear; (Our) Lady-psalter, the ‘PSALTER of the Blessed Virgin Mary’; Lady-quarter, the quarter in which Lady-day occurs; Lady-tide, the time of the year about Lady-day; † lady-wit, an effeminate pretender to culture; Lady-worshipper, one who worships the Virgin Mary. Also LADY-BIRD, LADY-COW, etc.

246 1898.  Weekly Reg., 16 July, 68. Mrs. Franks … presented a carved oak *lady-altar in memory of her late father.

247 1860.  O. W. Holmes, Prof. Breakf.-t., iii. (Paterson), 50. Joe, with his cheeks like *lady-apples.

248 1876.  T. Hardy, Ethelberta (1890), 24. The girl with the lady-apple cheeks.

249 1541.  Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 8. For mendynge of the whele of our *Lady belle.

250 1872.  Ellacombe, Bells of Ch., viii. in Ch. Bells Devon, 395. Six other bells from the rood tower, called the Lady Bells.

251 1787.  Grose, Pop. Superstit., in Provinc. Gloss., etc. 64. It is held extremely unlucky to kill a cricket, a *lady-bug, a swallow [etc.].

252 1869.  Mrs. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, xxvi. 298. Tina … insisted upon it that we should occasionally carry her in a *lady-chair over to this island.

253 1848.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre (1857), 255. That was only a *lady-clock, child, ‘flying away home.’

254 1894.  Hall Caine, Manxman, 113. A lady-clock settled on her wrist.

255 1882.  Cassell’s Nat. Hist., VI. 200. The Velvet Fiddler Crab … in the Channel Islands is known as the *Lady Crab, from its velvet coat.

256 1884.  Stand. Nat. Hist. (1888), II. 63. Platyonichus ocellatus, lady crab.

257 1885.  C. F. Holder, Marvels Anim. Life, 171. Their motions … resembling those of our common lady-crab.

258 1306.  Pol. Songs (Camden), 219. This wes on oure *Levedy even.

259 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 255. The Quene his wife was delivered of a daughter, on our lady Even before Christmas.

260 1603.  Owen, Pembrokesh. (1891), 191. At vsuall feastes that ys the one on our ladie Eve in March, the other at Maye Eve.

261 1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, II. 323. *Lady fluke. The Holibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris.

262 1724.  Gay, Sheph. Week, Thursday 83. This *lady-fly I take from off the grass.

263 1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 209. Lady-fly with freckled wings, Watch her up the tall bent climb.

264 1772.  Rutty, Nat. Hist. Dublin, I. 335. The *Lady-Fowl … is much esteemed in the London market … the Male being distinguished by the name of Easterling, and the female strictly called the Lady-fowl. Ibid., 336. The cock Lady-fowl is entirely distinct from the cock Widgeon.

265 1893.  Newton, Dict. Birds, Lady-fowl, said to be a name of the Wigeon.

266 1875.  Punch, 11 Sept., 98/1. In poor genteel families, *lady-helps could hardly expect any wages.

267 1881.  Miss Braddon, One Thing Needful, ix. I suppose we must call this paragon of yours a lady-help.

268 1811.  Ora & Juliet, II. 197. Upwards of twenty sat down at table, amongst whom was the *lady killer, or Colonel Sackville.

269 1884.  Graphic, 4 Oct., 362/1. He had been a lady-killer in his day, and was by no means out of the hunt yet.

270 1825.  C. M. Westmacott, Engl. Spy, I. 192. *Ladykilling coterie.

271 1837.  Marryat, Dog-fiend, li. ‘Pretty lady-killing,’ muttered the sergeant.

272 1858.  R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, i. 2. Nature had favoured Billy’s pretensions in the lady-killing way.

273 1849.  Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. ix. 284. Many an alms was given for Mary’s sake, and the food, so set aside, went by the name of *‘Lady-meat.’

274 1879.  E. Waterton, Pietas Mariana, 115. Bread and meat given in our Ladye’s love were called Saint Marye’s loaf, and Ladymeat.

275 1597.  1st Pt. Return fr. Parnass., IV. i. 1236. This haberdasher of lyes, this bracchidochio, this *ladyemunger.

276 1678.  Butler, Hud., III. i. 378. He serv’d two Prentiships and longer I’ th’ Myst’ry of a Lady-Monger.

277 1861.  Whyte-Melville, Mkt. Harb., 10. He did not quite fancy making one of that crowd of irregular-horse who appear on a Wednesday at Crick or Misterton, to the unspeakable dismay of the Pytchley *lady pack.

278 1896.  Westm. Gaz., 18 Dec., 4/1. Crossing the Swift brook the lady pack made play across the meadows beyond at a rare pace.

279 1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., in Sylva, etc. (1729), 223. Sugar-Pear, *Lady-Pear, Amadot, Ambret.

280 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 113. Te seie eche day our *Ladi sauter.

281 1547.  Homilies, I. Good Wks., III. (1859), 61. Papistical superstitions and abuses … Lady Psalters and Rosaries.

282 1803.  in Naval Chron., XV. 217. The men working in *Lady Quarter, 1802.

283 1888.  Bill-heading a! Maidstone, *Ladytide.

284 1894.  Athenæum, 17 March, 341/1. The practice of sending sheep to be kept in the Weald districts from Michaelmas to Ladytide is not wholly abandoned.

285 1647.  H. More, Song of Soul, To Rdr. 6/1. Some *Lady-wits that can like nothing that is not as compos’d as their own hair, or as smooth as their Mistresses Looking-glasse.

286 1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 893/2. If God do make men that haue some deuotion, whiche are *Ladie worshippers [etc.].

287   b.  In names of plants: lady-bracken, the brake, Pteris aquilina; lady-fern, an elegant fern, Athyrium Filix-femina; lady-key(s, (a) the primrose, Primula veris (Britten and Holland, Plant-n., 1879); (b) (see quot.); lady-lords (see quot.).

288 1820.  Blackw. Mag., June, 278/1. Having removed the heather and decayed leafs of *lady-bracken which covered the inscription.

289 1825–80.  Jamieson, Lady-bracken, the female fern.

290 1825.  J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 73. Groves o’ the *ladyfern embowering the sleeping roe.

291 1859.  Capern, Ball. & Songs, 137. A crown of lady-fern she wore.

292 1863.  Kingsley, Water-Bab., 14. The great tuft of lady ferns.

293 1887.  Kent. Gloss., *Lady-keys, same as Lady-lords. *Lady-lords, lords and ladies; the name given by children to the wild arum.

294   17.  Specialized collocations with the genitive lady’s (occas. ladies’): lady’s companion, a small case or bag arranged to hold implements for needlework, etc.; ladies’ fair ? nonce-wd., a bazaar; ladies’ gallery, a gallery in the House of Commons reserved for ladies; lady’s gown, ‘a gift made by a purchaser to the vendor’s wife on her renouncing her life-rent in her husband’s estate’ (Cassell); lady’s hole, (a) Naut. (see quot.); (b) a card game (also my lady’s hole); lady’s hood Sc., the omentum of a pig; lady’s ladder, ‘shrouds rattled too closely’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867); lady’s loaf = lady meat (sense 16); lady’s maid, a woman servant whose special duty it is to attend to the toilet of a lady; lady’s or ladies’ man, a man who is devoted to the society of women and is assiduous in paying them small attentions; ladies’ school, a school for the education of ‘young ladies’; lady’s wind Naut. (see quot.); † lady’s woman, (a) ? one who professes devotion to Our Lady; (b) a lady’s maid.

295 1844.  Marg. Fuller, Wom. 19th C. (1862), 35. Governors of *ladies’ fairs are no less engrossed by such a charge, than the governor of a state by his.

296 1897.  ‘Ouida,’ Massarenes, xvii. The speaker’s box … is much more comfortable than the *Lady’s Gallery.

297 1721.  W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 43. A *Lady’s Hole, or Place for the Gunner’s small Stores, which Stores are looked after by one they call a Lady.

298 1732.  Mrs. Pendarves, Lett. to Mrs. A. Granville, in Mrs. Delany’s Life & Corr., 385. We got early into our inn, played at my lady’s hole, supped, and went early to bed.

299 1813.  Sporting Mag., XLII. 273. From whist, that charms the noble’s soul, To kitchen putt and lady’s hole.

300 1826.  J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 133. What black puddins!—and oh what tripe! Only think o’ the *leddy’s hood and monyplies!—Then the marrowbanes.

301 1875.  T. E. Bridgett, Our Lady’s Dowry, 242. Alms, which naturally accompanied fasting, were also given in our Lady’s honour. Indeed this was so constant a practice, that it acquired a peculiar name as Lady’s meat or *Lady’s loaf.

302 1808.  Ann. Reg., 71. Elizabeth Daniels, *lady’s maid, said Sir A. Paget always visited at the house.

303 1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxxix. The man who sang the song with the lady’s-maid.

304 1863.  Miss Braddon, Eleanor’s Vict. (1878), I. iii. 23. The German governess and the Parisian lady’s-maid still attended upon Vane’s daughters.

305 1784.  Cowper, Tiroc., 423. A slave at court, elsewhere a *lady’s man.

306 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. vii. (Rtldg.), 23. I should have chosen the youngest, and the most of a lady’s man.

307 1842.  Thackeray, Fitz-Boodle Pap., Pref. (1887), 10. I am not … a ladies’ man.

308 1891.  N. Gould, Double Event, 149. They told me you were not a ladies’ man, Mr. Smirke.

309 1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. iv. He had an order for another *Ladies’ School … door-plate.

310 1886.  Kate Foote, in Century Mag., XXXII. 700/2. A gentle breeze blew from the shore toward them—a *‘lady’s wind,’ sailors would call it.

311 1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 885/2. Hee [St. Paul] saith not women but simple women, as if he said, these little *Ladies women [orig. ces petites bigotes], that woulde eat the crucifix (as we say) which make a shewe of great devotion.

312 1748.  Smollett, Rod. Rand., xi. The deplorable vanity and secondhand airs of a lady’s woman.

313   b.  In names of plants.

314   Lady’s here is in origin a shortening of Our Lady’s, and became familiar through the 16th-c. herbalists; in more recent times ladies’ has in some cases been substituted, the change being perhaps assisted by the old spelling ladies of the possessive singular. The designation is usually given to plants of a more than usual beauty or delicacy. (Cf. G. Marien-, frauen-, and F. de notre Dame.)

315   Lady’s bedstraw (see BEDSTRAW); lady’s bower, clematis; lady’s comb, the Shepherd’s Needle, Scandix Pecten; lady’s delight, the violet; lady’s foxglove, the Great Mullein, Verbascum Thapsus; lady’s glass, looking-glass, Campanula Speculum; (Our) Lady’s hair, (a) the grass Briza media; (b) Adiantum Capillus-veneris, also called Venus’ hair; † lady’s linen, ? LADY-SMOCK; † (Our) Lady’s milkwort, a name for Lungwort, Pulmonaria officinalis; † (Our) Lady’s mint, Mentha viridis; vlady’s navel [adaptation of L. umbilicus Veneris], a name for Navelwort, Cotyledon Umbilicus; † (Our) Lady’s signet LADY’S SEAL; lady’s thimble, (a) the Heath Bell, Campanula rotundifolia; (b) the Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea (Syd. Soc. Lex., 1888); lady’s thumb U.S., Polygonum Persicaria; † (Our) Lady’s tree (see quot.). See also LADY’S FINGER, LADY’S GLOVE, LADY’S LACES, etc.

316 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccxxvi. (1633), 887. *Ladies Bower is called in Latine Ambuxum.

317 1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), Ladies Bower, (Clematis), a Plant, which … is fit to make Bowers and Arbors, even for Ladies.

318 1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App., Lady’s Bower, Clematis.

319 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccc. 884. The Latines call it Scandix … of others Acus Veneris, and Acus Pastoris, or Shepheards Needle, wilde Cheruill, and *Ladies Combe.

320 1783.  Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), I. s.v. Comb, Lady’s comb, Pecten Veneris.

321 1860.  O. W. Holmes, Elsie V., v. (1861), 46. Flower-de-luces, and *lady’s-delights.

322 1776–96.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 248. Great White Mullein … *Ladies Foxglove.

323 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. civ. § 4. 356. It is called … Venus looking glasse, Speculum Veneris, or *Ladies glasse.

324 1551.  *Ladyes heyre [see HAIR sb. 4 b].

325 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. cccclvii. 983. In English black Maiden haire and Venus haire, and may be called our Ladies haire.

326 1794.  Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., xiii. 135. Briza or ladies’ hair.

327 1761.  W. Stukeley, Palæogr. Sacra (1763), 25. Botanists … show a very particular regard to the fair sex … as we may well conclude from so many names they give to plants; ladys fingers, ladys traces, *ladys linen,… ladys slipper, &c.

328 1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 1740. *Ladies, or Venus looking-glasse.

329 1677.  Grew, Anat. Plants, Colours Plants, i. § 15 (1682), 271. The youngest Buds of Ladys-Lookinglass.

330 1879.  Britten & Holland, Plant-n., *Lady’s (Our) Milkwort, Pulmonaria officinalis.

331 1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccxv. 553. In English Speare Mint, common Garden Mint, our Ladies Mint [etc.]. Ibid., cxliii. § 3. 424. Nauelwoort is called … in English Pennywoort, Wall Pennywoort, *Ladies nauell, and Hipwoort.

332 1611.  Cotgr., Escueller, Hipwort, Wall-penniewort, Ladies-nauell (an hearbe).

333 1657.  W. Coles, Adam in Eden, cxci. 299. The black Bryony is called Sigillum Sanctæ Mariæ, our *Ladies Signet.

334 1853.  G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 134. Campanula rotundiflora. Blue-Bells: *Ladies’ Thimbles. Ibid., 158. Our little girls glove their fingers with them [Digitalis purpurea] and call them Ladies’ thimbles.

335 1608.  Topsell, Serpents (1658), 601. In ancient time, the ignorant multitude, seeing a Birch tree with green leaves in the Winter, did call it our *Ladies Tree, or a holy tree, attributing that greenness to miracle.

336   Hence Ladydom, the realm of ladies. Ladyish a., resembling a lady, having the objectionable characteristics of a ‘fine lady.’ Ladyism, the manners or behavior of a lady (cf. young-ladyism). Ladyness, (a) cf. quot. 1538; (b) effeminacy.

337 1538.  Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (Parker Soc.), 403. By reason of their lady [a wooden image of Our Lady] they have been given to much idleness; but now that she is gone, they be turned to laboriousness, and so from ladyness to godliness.

338 1785.  [E. Perronet], Occas. Verses, Who & What is a Man? 135. Powder’d fops of ladyness.

339 1830.  Examiner, 773/1. The whining of an artificial and lady-ish City Miss.

340 1843.  Fraser’s Mag., XXVIII. 568. Accustomed to the atmosphere and language of Ladydom.

341 1856.  Whyte-Melville, Kate Cov., xxi. Miss Molasses, the pink of propriety and ‘what-would-mamma-say’ ladyism.

342 © 2024 WEHD.com