(Also 9 tigeress.) [f. TIGER + -ESS, after F. tigresse.]

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  1.  A female tiger.

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1611.  Cotgr., Tigresse, a Tigresse, a she Tiger.

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1624.  Massinger, Renegado, III. v. If Christians have mothers, sure they share in The tigress’ fierceness.

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1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, xv. 278. The Indian tigresses firme peace enjoy.

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1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 117. She turned on him like a tigress at bay.

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  2.  fig. A fierce, cruel, or tiger-like woman: cf. TIGER sb. 4.

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1700.  Motteux, Quix., I. IV. iv. II. 400. I never will give any body reason to call me Tigress and Lioness.

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1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), Tigress,… a ranting Woman, a cruel Mistress.

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1871.  M. Collins, Marq. & Merch., I. iii. 121. The proper subjugation of the young heiress and tigress.

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  † b.  A vulgarly or obtrusively overdressed woman: cf. TIGER 7. Obs.

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1836.  New Monthly Mag., XLVIII. 460. Tigresses, too, shone in a near approach to nudity, in Greek draperies and a Brutus’ wig.

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  3.  attrib. and Comb., as tigress-heart, -like adj.

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1844.  Louisa S. Costello, Béarn & Pyrenees, II. 341. Adieu, tigress-heart! Shepherdess without affection.

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1910.  Q. Rev., Jan., 13. Started in tigress-like revenge by a lady of quality.

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