proprietress
(prəʊˈpraɪɪtrɪs)
[f. proprietor + -ess1: cf. obs. F. proprieteresse.]
A female proprietor.
| 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables II. cccxxiii. 282 The Proprietress..Demanded Possession again, but the Other begg'd her Excuse. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xvi, With his eyes fixed on a very fat old lady in a mob-cap—evidently the proprietress of the establishment. 1875 Maine Hist. Inst. xi. 334 When the proprietress dies, there is a special order of succession. |