Also 6 Iesabelle, 7 Jezabel, Jesebel. Name of the infamous wife of Ahab king of Israel (1 Kings xvi. 31, xix. 1, 2, xxi.; 2 Kings ix. 30–37); hence used allusively for a wicked, impudent or abandoned woman (cf. Rev. ii. 20) or for a woman who paints her face.
1558. Knox, First Blast (Arb.), 39. He hath raised vp these Iesabelles [our mischeuous Maryes] to be the vttermoste of his plagues.
1679. T. Oates (title), Witch of Endor; or the witchcrafts of the Roman Jesebel.
1711. Budgell, Spect., No. 175, ¶ 2. A Jezebel … appears constantly dress’d at her Sash, and has a thousand little Tricks and Fooleries to attract the Eyes of all the idle young Fellows.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 18 July, Let. i. Mrs. Jenkins was … insulted with the opprobrious name of painted Jezebel.
1891. S. Mostyn, Curatica, 113. Oh! you abandoned Jezebel!
Hence Jezebelian, † Jezebelical, Jezebelish adjs. (nonce-wds.), of the character of, or resembling, Jezebel.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, I. I. 63. That painted Iezabel, whose fouler wrinkles, her Iezabelicall, Iesuiticall Parasites still labour with renewed and refined Arts also to playster and fill vp a fresh.
1896. Westm. Gaz., 28 July, 4/2. Remarks on her Jezebelish appearance [so much paint and powder].
