lioness

noun

Etymology: From Middle English leonesse, lyonesse, from Old French leonesse, lionesse; equivalent to lion + -ess.

1. A female lion (animal).

   “Residents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a “loose, dangerous animal”, suspected to be an escaped lioness.”

2. A female lion (famous person regarded with interest and curiosity).

   “The stories were a tremendous success; she was one of the leading lionesses of London literary society.”

   “The Middlesbrough Labour MP, Stuart Bell, a political and personal friend, said: "Mo was a lioness both in terms of the Labour party and politics nationally. She cut to the quick with any issue and proved herself a stateswoman of the highest order when seeking to negotiate the Northern Ireland Good Friday agreement.”

3. A female visitor to a student at Oxford, especially during commemoration week.

   “When "lionesses" visiting Oxford for the gay doings of commemoration week spend a morning at Merton, they should look out for Antony Wood's mural tablet in the chapel, […]”

   “"Now, boys, keep your eyes open, there must be plenty of lionesses about;" and thus warned, the whole load, including the cornopean player, were on the look-out for lady visitors, profanely called lionesses, all the way up the street.”