majoress

English

Etymology

From major +‎ -ess.

Noun

majoress (plural majoresses)

1. (dated) A female major.
   • 1852 October 10, “The British Lion”, “Woman’s Rights’ Women.—Liberty, Equality, Maternity.”, in The Era, volume XV, number 733, page 8:

     Suppose a Coloneless, or a Majoress, or a Captainess received orders to lead her men up to a dangerous post, under a heavy fire, how would she do it?

   • 1853, “The Ladies of the Creation; or, How I Was Cured of Being a Strong-Minded Woman”, in Punch, volume XXIV, London: […] the Office:

     Imagine my feelings when I found that it was composed of the nicest young ladies, in such very becoming uniforms, with a stout old drum-majoress.

   • 1897 April 20, The Chicago Daily Tribune, volume LVI, number 110, page 6:

     But instead, the soldiery will fatten and grow sleek and strong and Commissary Sergeantess Morgan will be promoted and become a Lieutenantess, and then a Captainess, and afterwards a Majoress, and from that to Coloneless, and who knows but some time when she inspects the camp the voice of the sentry at post No. 1 will be heard calling as she approaches: “The Generaless of the Colorado Militia! Turn out the guard!”

   • 1932 March 4, “Kentucky Colonels; And Others”, in The Fresno Morning Republican, volume LXXXI, number 64, Fresno, Calif., page 4:

     If the governor of Kentucky is now making colonels by the wholesale, he is doing it “for a reason.” It is a mere unfortunate incident, for him, that he can not make colonelesses and majoresses. The grip of the appointive power on the women is even stronger than on the men.

   • 1998 August 7, Fred Loader, The Sault Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., page A3:

     SERGEANT-MAJORESS? A British army male sergeant major, who hopes to start the new year as a woman, has been confined to barracks pending an investigation into his revelations to the news media.

   • 2008, Minor Meadows, One Civic Nation, →ISBN, page 62:

     No one else can define these points for a young man, not his Major – present or not present – or his Majoress, not his friends nor his job nor his education or lack thereof.

2. (dated) The wife of a major.
   • 1799, “The Major’s Courtship and Declaration”, in The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure, volume CIV, London: […] W. Bent, page 259:

     God be praiſed! my worthy lady majoreſs! my dear, fortune major!

   • 1994 August 24, Reading Evening Post, page 15:

     Landlords Arthur and Angie Cascoe and clown Alic Gostonski steady the ribbon for Major and Majoress John and Shirley to officially open the event

   • 1997 October 29, The Chronicle, page 12:

     other guests include: MISS WINSFORD 1997, WINSFORD TOWN MAJOR & MAJORESS

   • 1997 November 13, “Come along to Songs of Praise”, in Burton Mail, number 31,174, page 44:

     Special guests for the evening will be Deputy Major and Majoress, Mr and Mrs Tom Dawn.