sheriffess

English

Etymology

From sheriff +‎ -ess.

Noun

sheriffess (plural sheriffesses)

1. A female sheriff.
   • 1673, An Alphabetical Account of the Nobility and Gentrey, which are (or lately were) related unto the several Counties of England and Wales: […], London, published 1892, page 98:

     The Lady Anne Clifford, only Daughter of George Earl of Cumberland, now Lady Clifford, Westmoreland, and Vescy, Countess Dowager of Pembrook, Dorset, and Montgomery, Hereditary Sheriffess of this County, and owner of the Honour of Shipton in Craven in Yorkshire.

   • 1783 May 18, John Bowle, “Mr. Bowle to Mr. Warton”, in John Wooll, editor, Biographical Memoirs of the Late Rev^d Joseph Warton, D.D.; […], London: […] Luke Hansard, […] for T. Cadell and W. Davies, […], published 1806, page 402:

     Mr. Nichols has postponed a paper of mine, in which I have greatly corroborated what you advanced concerning sheriffesses, which he tells me will appear in his next.

   • 1909 September 27, John Lewis Griffiths, “The City of London: An Address Delivered at the Guildhall, September 27, 1909”, in The Greater Patriotism: Public Addresses by John Lewis Griffiths, American Consul-General at London, Delivered in England and America, London: John Lane, The Bodley Head; New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1918, page 170:

     There will be no impropriety, I trust, if I embrace within the limits of my toast the Lady Mayoress, and the Lady Sheriffesses—if there be such a title.

   • 1989, Peter Dickinson, Skeleton-in-Waiting, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, page 7:

     Of course, he had stuck to his bargain, accepting the unwanted earldom, smiling and nodding to High Sheriffesses who embarked on intelligent questions about his work, judging rhubarb jam made by classes of eight-year-olds, applauding the traditional music of the Upper Gambo (nose-flute, two-stringed twanger and oil-drum flogged with bike-chain) and so on, but that didn’t make him any more suitable or credible.

   • 2000 May 10, Katie Watts, “Yesteryears”, in Petaluma Argus-Courier, section “80 Years Ago”, page 36:

     Announcement was made today in Martinez of the engagement of Miss Leola Veals, said to be the only sheriffess in California, to Earl Merritt Cole of Wichita Falls, Texas. (May 3, 1920)