Dictionary

officeress en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

* officer + -ess

Meanings

1. (archaic, humorous, rare) A female officer.
   • I can hear the tumbrel wheels creaking again and the swift slide of the blade—in my dream I was being interviewed by a female Mont Court parole officeress or whatever, dreams take their own course, and pretty soon the doctor or the male Mont Court, or somebody, came back. 1998, Norman Mailer, The Executioner's Song, Vintage International, →ISBN, page 361:
   • What are the functions of this lady—what it was she desired to try—whether her name begins with N., T., Or P., seem to be moot questions; but they positively say, not only that such an officeress exists, but that she keeps a Clerk. 1839 June, Morgan O'Doherty, “Familiar Epistle to the Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia.”, in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, volume 19, James Fraser, page 742:
   • It required a sketch from the life by Burton of the inky hag who was chief officeress of his brigade to put matters right at home. 1931, Fairfax Davis Downey, Burton, Arabian Nights Adventurer, C. Scribner's sons, page 214:

Forms