mayoress

noun

Etymology: From Middle English meyresse, mayresse, mairasse; equivalent to mayor + -ess.

1. A female mayor.

   “The blonde mayoress was apparently a member of the MPLA and there were indications that spies in the town were sending radio messages to the enemy. Life was monotonous and the troops took to fishing to supplement their rations.”

   “With the Spanish port of Cadiz doubling for the Cuban capital Havana, its striking blonde Mayoress Teofila Martinez was offered a small role as a nurse, but she politely declined.”

2. The wife of a (male) mayor.

   “To a Lady Majoress. WHen I behold your head and limbs all shaking Much like a Custard newly come from baking, Your Velvet hood on tipto rais’d upright As if your Hinch boy challenge would to fight. Your pretty mouth, like Oyster gaping wide, As if it did expect ere long the tyde; Your Chin like Aple, both so red and shrivel’d, So scalded by a hot rhume hourly drivel’d.”

   “Prophets wives were anciently called Prophetesses; like as Bishops wives (saith à Lapide the Jesuit) were also called Bishoppesses, Presbyters wives Presbyteresses, Deacons wives Deaconesses: Jesuits have still their Jesuitesses, as Majors their Majoresses, &c.”

3. A daughter or female friend of a male mayor chosen by him to hold the title mayoress.