Meaning and Origin
What does the name Lady mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Lady
User Submitted Origins
English
83%
Hebrew
17%
User Submitted Meanings
- A submission from Ghana says the name Lady means "Grace of God".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun La"dy
Senses
- 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.).]
- A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord."Lord or ladyof high degree." [Lowell.]"Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . . We make thee lady." [Shak.]
- 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.]
- 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.
- A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.
- A wife; -- not now in approved usage.
- Hence:Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady ; also used in combination; as, sales lady .
- [Zoöl] 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.
Etymology: OE. ladi læfdi, AS. hlǣfdige hlǣfdie; AS. hlāf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See Loaf, and cf. Lord
adjective La"dy
Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A woman of refinement ("a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady")
- A woman of the peerage in Britain
- A polite name for any woman ("a nice lady at the library helped me")
Wiktionary
From Middle English lady, laddy, lafdi, lavedi, from Old English hlǣfdīġe (“mistress of a household, wife of a lord, lady”, literally “bread-kneader”), from hlāf (“bread, loaf”) + dīġe (“maid”), related to Old English dǣġe (“maker of dough”). Compare also lord. More at loaf, dairy, dough.
- (historical) The mistress of a household.
- A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.
- "I would like the dining room to be fully set by tonight; would you do so?" "Yes, my ".
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- The feminine of lord.
- A title for someone married to a lord.
- A title for somebody married to a gentleman.
- A title that can be used instead of the formal terms of marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness.
- (polite or used by children) A woman: an adult female human.
- Please direct this to the soft furnishings department.
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- (in the plural) A polite reference or form of address to women.
- Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today. Follow me, !
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- (slang) Used to address a female.
- Hey, , move your car!
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- ( or ) Toilets intended for use by women.
- (familiar) A wife or girlfriend; a sweetheart.
- A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound.
- (slang) A queen (the playing card).
- (dated, attributive, with a professional title) Who is a woman.
- A doctor.
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- (Wicca) Alternative form of Lady.
- The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster, consisting of calcareous plates; so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure.
- (Britain, slang) A five-pound note. (Rhyming slang, Lady Godiva for fiver.)
- (slang) A woman’s breast.
lady was also found in the following language(s): French, Italian, and Middle English