[a. F. tribade (16th c.), or ad. its source L. tribas, -ad-, Gr. τριβάς, τριβαδ- f. τρίβειν to rub.] A woman who practises unnatural vice with other women. Also attrib.
1601. B. Jonson, Forest, x. Præludium. Light Venus … with thy tribade trine, invent new sports.
1890. H. H. Ellis, Criminal, iii. § 7. 106. Such emblems are common among pæderasts and tribades.
Hence Tribadism, Tribady.
1817–9. Woods and Pirie v. Gordon (Index Catal. Libr. Surgeon-General’s Office U.S.A., XIV. 752). Lady C. G. … who had charged them with the practice of tribadism.
1864. trans. Caspar’s Forensic Med. (N. Syd. Soc.), III. 335. Tribadism. Even in the Old Testament there is distinct allusion to this form of sexual aberration.
1882. Payne, 1001 Nights, II. 156. She was given to tribadism and could not exist without it: so if any damsel pleased her, she was wont to teach her the art and rub saffron on her, till she fainted away for excess of pleasure.
1909. Cent. Dict., Suppl., Tribady.
