virago

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • n virago a large strong and aggressive woman
    • n virago a noisy or scolding or domineering woman
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • Virago A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior. "To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries."
    • Virago Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a vixen. "Virago . . . serpent under femininity."
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Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • n virago A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior.
    • n virago Hence A bold, impudent, turbulent woman; a termagant: now the usual meaning.
    • n virago [capitalized] [NL. (A. Newton, 1871).] A genus of Anatinæ: so called because the female has a peculiarity of the windpipe usually found only in male ducks. The species is V. punctata (or castanea) of Australia.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • n Virago vi-rā′go or vī-rā′gō a masculine woman: a bold, impudent woman: a termagant
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Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. virago, -intis, from vir, a man. See Virile
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
L.,—vir, a man.

Usage

In literature:

Was his wife such a terrifying virago?
"Romance" by Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
She's a hot-headed little virago, your mash.
"The Best Ghost Stories" by Various
The study of these viragos scales down our rating of the master.
"Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 4 (of 14)" by Elbert Hubbard
Yvronia having been described in seven chapters, the traveller in this Other-and-Same World passes on to Viraginia, the land of the Viragoes.
"Ideal Commonwealths" by Various
She was a virago of the first order, very able with her fist, and still more formidable with her tongue.
"Irish Wit and Humor" by Anonymous
They say she was a virago, a vixen and a shrew, Who scolded poor old Socrates until the air was blue.
"The Wit and Humor of America, Volume V. (of X.)" by Various
Femme Gougeon, as leader of a horde of viragoes, was rushing among them shrieking more fiendishly than ever.
"The False Chevalier" by William Douw Lighthall
That virago of a matron told me this morning that if she'd been in her place, she'd have run away years ago.
"The Lady of the Basement Flat" by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
And then the virago sauntered back into the kitchen, leaving her guest to go where he liked.
"The Day of Wrath" by Maurus Jókai
Randle Holme says that a sleeve thus tied in at the elbow was called a virago sleeve.
"Customs and Fashions in Old New England" by Alice Morse Earle
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In poetry:

Mar. And is your pride Virago still so high?
That it doth over-top your misery.
Cann't sorrow strike thee dumbe, can no disaster,
The liberty of thy tongue over-master.
"Rhodon And Iris. Act II" by Ralph Knevet

In news:

On Saturday, June 16, former View virago Star Jones hosted a lavish 37th birthday party for her hubby Al Reynolds and 30 of his nearest and dearest at the Estate, a posh new private mansion in Southampton.
observer.com
In addition to being on the Navigator Publishing staff, Charlie Humphries is an avid sailor and frequently does deliveries with Richard and Carol Archer on board Virago, the 100-foot Swan they captain.
oceannavigator.com
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Related words