drunkardess
nounEtymology From drunkard + -ess.
1
Dated A female drunkard.
- I remember a time (not so very long since) when the slaughter of a single man or woman sufficed to rouse the whole country to the highest pitch of excitement, to fill all the newspapers with immense columns of details and particulars, leaders, pleaders, observers, and examiners, which was daily renewed in shape and colour, with additional remarks, and so kept up the steam for a month or more, until another drunkard happened to suffocate another drunkardess, when the wheel set to turn on its rounds and round abouts again, till new orders.1870 October 29, “Mental Aeronaut”, “The War.—The Science of “Making” News—A Fresh Invention.”, in The Preston Chronicle and Lancashire Advertiser, number 3095, page 6:
- These vulgar drunkardesses are only fit themes for such papers as the Alliance News; and yet socially their degeneration may be productive of more harm than the demoralizing influence of half-a-dozen eau-de-cologne swillers in Mayfair or Belgravia.1871 February 8, “Occasional Notes”, in The Pall Mall Gazette, volume XIII, number 1869, page 4:
4 more examples
- He is a good German, and he never brings presents to any little boys or girls who ever expect to be drunkards or drunkardesses.1880 December 22, Camden Daily Post, Camden, N.J.:
- The drunkardess was as profane, as shameless, as maudlin, and as pitiable a wreck as her brother drunkard often is.1887 March 3, Buffalo Weekly Express, Buffalo, N.Y., page 5:
- He [William Lane] also complains that while Mary was a member of his household she acquired the habit of drinking, and is now a habitual drunkard or drunkardess.1890 March 19, Lincoln Evening News, volume IX, number 149, Lincoln, Neb.:
- The following list of drunkards and “drunkardesses” were given ten days by Mayor Westcott this morning in lieu of the usual fine of $3.67: William Campbell, Julia Lamont, Sara Paxton and Samuel Bacon.1894 April 24, Camden Daily Telegram, number 2501, Camden, N.J.: