mayoress
(ˈmɛərɪs)
Forms: 5 meyresse, 5, 7 mayresse, 6 mayras, majoris, maiores, 7 mai-, majoresse, 8–9 may'ress, 7– mayoress.
[f. mayor + -ess. Cf. F. mairesse (now only jocular).]
1. The wife of a mayor.
Also sometimes applied, when a mayor is unmarried or a widower, to a lady of his family who fulfils the ceremonial duties normally belonging to the mayor's wife.
The wife of a Lord Mayor is called Lady Mayoress.
| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. viii. (1869) 78 What is this? Art thou meyresse? 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1533) II. 223 b/2 The kynge..sent vnto the mayresse and her systers, aldermennes wyfes two hartes and .vi. buckes, wyth a tonne of wyne. 1541 Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 410 Such obprobrious words..spokyn by Maisteras Mayras. 1558 Reg. St. George's, Canterb., M'res Agnes May, Majoris, buried in the Church. 1587 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 105 She whose husband..hath been Mayor of this said town..shall take her place..nearest to M{supr}{supi}{sups} Maiores for the time being. 1619 Middleton Tri. Love & Antiq. C 3 This king..sent to the Lady Maioresse..2 Harts [etc.]. a 1637 B. Jonson Underwoods lx. Elegy, The Lady Mayresse. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3842/2 She was pleased to admit Mrs. Mayoress..to the Honour of kissing Her Majesty's Hand. 1778 Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2) s.v. Westbury on Trin, William Cannings..built an alms-house here, allowing the mayor of Bristol to put in one of the men, and Mrs. mayoress one of the women. 1824 Byron Juan xvi. xlv. note, The mayoress of a provincial town. |
2. A woman holding the office of mayor. U.S.
| 1884 Chicago Tribune 5 May 4/3 She cannot under the laws monopolize the holding of nice special offices like Mayoress. 1895 N. Amer. Rev. Sept. 267 When women shall have become..mayoresses and alderwomen. 1947 Chicago Sun 4 Nov. 16/5 The dish..will be delivered..by Mrs. Margaret Craig, mayoress of Twickenham. |
3. A person appointed to assist a female mayor.
| 1932 Times 10 Nov. 8/6 Mrs. Emily F. George, the Labour Mayor of Bermondsey, has appointed her daughter..to be Mayoress. |