executioneress

English

Etymology

executioner +‎ -ess

Noun

executioneress (plural executioneresses)

1. (rare) A female executioner.
   • 1874, J. A[lfred] Skertchly, “The So-Sin Custom—(continued)”, in Dahomey as It Is: Being a Narrative of Eight Months’ Residence in That Country, […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], page 267:

     Twelve umbrellas, covering as many Bo-fetiche priestesses, followed by two brass shields, a large drum, two large scimitar-shaped blades, fretted as usual, and having skulls on the hilts, eighteen Bo Kpo in red avo, six executioneresses in leopard cloths of yellow with black spots, silver horns and bracelets; a number of black affairs like Highlanders’ targets, and five flags.