ladies

See also: ladies' and laddies

English

Etymology

As a lavatory for women, via misspelling of ladies'. Compare gents.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈleɪdiz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

ladies

1. plural of lady
   • 2014, C.S. Walter, Abandoned Bridges, pp. 105 f.:

     He wet his thumb with saliva pressing on the tongue, ran it up and down faster over the letter 'I' of 'TOILET', the 'LADIES TOILET' was transformed into 'LADIES TO LET' in no time.

Coordinate terms

• gents, gentlemen, men, sirs

Derived terms

• ladies and gentlemen

Noun

ladies

1. (Britain, euphemistic) A ladies' room: a lavatory intended for use by women.
   • 2000, Munroe Blair, Ceramic Water Closets, p. 15:

     London's first 'gents' public toilets were opened in Fleet Street in 1851, followed in 1852 by a 'ladies' toilet at 51 Bedford Street, Strand.

Synonyms

• see Thesaurus:bathroom

Coordinate terms

• gents, gentlemen, men, sirs
• men's

Adjective

ladies (not comparable)

1. Intended for use by women.
   • 2014, C.S. Walter, Abandoned Bridges, pp. 105 f.:

     He wet his thumb with saliva pressing on the tongue, ran it up and down faster over the letter 'I' of 'TOILET', the 'LADIES TOILET' was transformed into 'LADIES TO LET' in no time.

Coordinate terms

• men's, gents

See also

• madams, mesdames
• Appendix:Special uses of possessives in English

Anagrams

• aisled, deasil, ideals, sailed

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French

Alternative forms

• ladys

Noun

ladies f

1. plural of lady

Anagrams

• délais, délias, laides