subs. (old).—1.  A pocket-handkerchief; a WIPE (q.v.). Fr. une fassollette.

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  1879.  J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL., 503. I tore up my MADAM, and tied the wedge in small packets.

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  2.  (old).—A mistress.

3

  1640.  RANDOLPH, In Lesbiam et Histrionem, in Wks. [HAZLITT, (1875), ii. 539].

        And yet has no revenues to defray
These charges, but the MADAM; she must pay
His prodigal disbursements. MADAMS are
To such as he more than a treble share.

4

  1719.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, iv. 139. Hide-Park may be called the market of MADAMS.

5

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

6

  1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

7

  1859.  G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

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  3.  (colloquial).—A bold girl; an artful woman.

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  4.  (old).—An ironical address.

10

  1727.  GAY, The Beggar’s Opera, ii. Air xx. Why, how now, MADAM flirt.

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  1790.  The Busy Bee (quoted in), iii. 59.

                            Every bush beat,
And no signs of MADAM, no trace of her feet.

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