[See VISCOUNT and -ESS. So F. vicomtesse, It. viscontessa, Sp. vizcondesa, Pg. viscondessa.]
1. The wife of a viscount; a peeress of the fourth order of nobility.
1475. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 134/1. Margaret Viscountesse Lisle, wyfe of the said Henry Bodrugan, which is a grete estate of this Reame.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxi. 80 b/2. The erle then sent letters … desyrynge the kynge to suffre his cosyn the vycountes to be in peas.
1529. Act 21 Hen. VIII., c. 13 § 17. Any Chapeleyne of any Duches Marques Countesse Vyscountesse or Baronesse.
1578. Chr. Prayers, in Priv. Prayers (1851), 521. The Viscountess. Viscountesses I do not spare; For of them I have no care.
1643. Docq. Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837), 377. A Lease made … to the said Viscountesse of parcell of the lands.
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2444/1. A Pursuivant, a Vicountess, Vicounts.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Vicount, A Viscountess may have her Gown bore up by a Woman, out of the Presence of her Superiors; and in their Presence by a Man.
1753. Gray, Long Story, 134. Why, what can the Viscountess mean?
1805. in A. Duncan, Nelson (1806), 333. His relict Lady Viscountess Nelson.
1876. T. Hardy, Ethelberta (1890), 317. Rather disappointed at this aspect of a viscountess’s life.
1890. Froude, Ld. Beaconsfield, xiv. 211. Mrs. Disraeli became Viscountess Beaconsfield.
2. A particular size of slate.
1878. D. C. Davies, Slate & Slate Quarrying, 136. Princesses … Duchesses … Marchionesses … Countesses … Viscountesses 18 × 9 … Ladies.
