| lady | Origin: OE. Ladi, laefdi, AS. Hlfdige, hlfdie; AS. Hlaf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. Dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord. 1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. "Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady." (Wyclif (Gen. Xvi. 8)) 2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; a feminine correlative of lord. "Lord or lady of high degree." "Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady." (Shak) 3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart. "The soldier here his wasted store supplies, And takes new valor from his lady's eyes." (Waller) 4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right. 5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; the feminine correlative of gentleman. 6. A wife; not now in approved usage. 7. <zoology> The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates. Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. <zoology> Lady crab, a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Lady fern. <botany> See Female fern, under Female, and Illust. Of Fern. Lady in waiting, a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. Lady Mass, a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Lady of the manor, a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord. Lady's maid, a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. Our Lady, the Virgin Mary. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| lady's bedstraw | <botany> The common bedstraw (Galium verum); also, a slender-leaved East Indian shrub (Pharnaceum Mollugo), with white flowers in umbels. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's bower | <botany> A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms (Clematis vitalba). This term is sometimes applied to other plants of the same genus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's comb | <botany> An umbelliferous plant (Scandix Pecten-Veneris), its clusters of long slender fruits remotely resembling a comb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's cushion | <botany> An herb growing in dense tufts; the thrift (Armeria vulgaris). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's finger | 1. <botany> The kidney vetch. 2. A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a finger. 3. A long, slender variety of the potato. 4. <zoology> One of the branchiae of the lobster. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's garters | <botany> Ribbon grass. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's hair | <botany> A plant of the genus Briza (B. Media); a variety of quaking grass. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's laces | <botany> A slender climbing plant; dodder. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's looking-glass | <botany> See Venus's looking-glass, under Venus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's mantle | <botany> A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla), especially. The European A. Vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and finely serrated lobes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's seal | <botany> The European Solomon's seal (Polygonatum verticillatum). The black bryony (Tamus communis). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's slipper | <botany> Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's smock | <botany> A plant of the genus Cardamine (C. Pratensis); cuckoo flower. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lady's thimble | <botany> The harebell. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |