grandmamma
(ˈgrændməmɑː, ˈgrænməmɑː)
Also grandmama.
[See grand a. 12 b.]
A colloquial synonym of grandmother n. Also ˈgrandma, ˈgrandmammy. (For the status of these forms see mamma, ma, mammy1.)
| 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 140 The maid..added, that she was sure this usage of her sweet young master, would be the death of his grand⁓mamma. 1763 Brit. Mag. IV. 495 O discretion! thou'rt a jewel, Or our grand-mammas mistake. 1781 Cowper Retirement 515 Your prudent grandmammas, ye modern belles, Content with Bristol, Bath, and Tunbridge Wells. 1813 Examiner 29 Mar. 204/1 To frighten children and grandmammas. 1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 158 At our old grand⁓mamma's in St. Clement's. 1836 Dickens Let. 30 July (1965) I. 159 Perhaps you will fill up the blank, and place ‘Grandmama’ and ‘Grandpapa’ at the top. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt i. 34 You shall have nothing to do now but to be grandmamma on satin cushions. 1867 W. James Let. 26 Sept. (1920) I. 105, I remember days passed in Grandma's old house in Albany. 1871 L. M. Alcott Little Men iii. 30 Mrs. Bhaer with Daisy and her own two boys drove into town, to pay the weekly visit to Grandma. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet 38 But, grandmammy dear, I thought that [etc.]. 1939 Joyce Finnegans Wake 580 To make grim grandma grunt and grin again. |