rossie, n. Anglo-Ir.
(ˈrɒsɪ)
[ad. Ir. rásaidhe, rása{iacu}.]
A wandering woman, a jilt; used as a disparaging term for a woman.
| 1922 Joyce Ulysses 359 If they could run like rossies she could sit so she said she could see from where she was. 1927 P. S. Dinneen Irish-Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) 879/1 Rásach, -aighe, -acha, f., a rambling woman, a gipsy, a jilt; cf. rossie (Dublin); rásaidhe, id. 1939 Joyce Finnegans Wake (1964) 327 All the prim rossies are out dress-parading. 1961 ‘F. O'Brien’ Hard Life v. 71 She told us all about her dear friend, Emmeline Pankhurst. Now there is a bold rossie for you if you like. |