Forms: 3–6 aunte, 5 awnt, 5– aunt; 3–7 (mi, thi) naunt(e, 9 dial. noant. [a. OF. aunte, ante, cogn. with Pr. amda, Lombard. amida:—L. amita. In Eng. a mistaken division of mine aunt, as my naunt, occurs in literature from 13th to 17th c., and still dialectally; cf. nuncle for uncle, and auger, apron, etc. (Some mod.F. dialects have also nante (ma nante = mon ante); the modern F. tante, found already in 13th c., perhaps originated, in the language of the nursery, from OF. t’ante ‘thy aunt.’)]
1. The sister of one’s father or mother. Also, an uncle’s wife, more strictly called an aunt-in-law.
1297. R. Glouc., 571. Sir Gui de Mountfort, that was … is aunte sone.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24675. His moder was þi naunt.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 82. Elezabethe, myn awnt dere.
1473. Marg. Paston, in Lett., 716, III. 78. Recomaunde me to … my naunte.
a. 1556. Cranmer, Wks., II. 329. Aunt and aunt-in-law, niece and niece-in-law.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. ii. 76. My Maids Aunt the fat woman of Brainford.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 7, ¶ 4. A Maiden Aunt … who is one of these antiquated Sybils.
1834. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), III. 45, note. What might have happened afterwards, is only known to those who can tell what would have come to pass if your aunt had been your uncle.
b. (in U.S.) Used endearingly of: Any benevolent practical woman who exercises these qualities to the benefit of her circle of acquaintance; cf. Sp. tia, and see AUNTHOOD.
1861. Mrs. Stowe, Pearl of Orr’s Isl., 21. These universally useful persons receive among us the title of ‘aunt’ by a sort of general consent…. They are nobody’s aunts in particular, but aunts to human nature generally.
† c. Formerly used by alumni of Oxford and Cambridge as a title for the ‘sister university.’
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. I. 308. The Sons of our Aunt are loth to consent, that one who was taught in Cambridge, should teach in Oxford.
1701. Pepys, Corr., 403. An humble present of mine, though a Cambridge man, to my dear Aunt, the University of Oxford.
† 2. An old woman; a gossip. Obs.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 51. The wisest Aunt telling the saddest tale.
3. A bawd or procuress; a prostitute. Obs.
1607. Middleton, Michaelm. Term, III. i. Wks. X. 470. She demanded of me whether I was your worships aunt or no. Out, out, out!
1663. Parson’s Wedd., III. i. in Hazl., Dodsl., XIV. 448. Yes, and follow her, like one of my aunts of the suburbs.
1678. Dryden, Kind Kpr., I. i. The easiest Fool I ever knew, next my Naunt of Fairies in the Alchymist.
4. Aunt Sally: a game much in vogue at fairs and races, in which the figure of a woman’s head with a pipe in its mouth is set up, and the player, throwing sticks from a certain distance, aims at breaking the pipe.
1861. Times (Derby Day), Aunt Sally … this fashionable and athletic sport … is rather overdone than otherwise.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 Aug., 4/1. Aunt Sallies and skittles for those who prefer such attractions.
