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Godiva

[guh-dahy-vuh]

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noun

Lady Godiva, died 1057, wife of Leofric. According to legend, she rode naked through the streets of Coventry, England, to win relief for the people from a burdensome tax.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for godiva

Historical Examples of godiva

On which Godiva replied: 'But will you give me permission if I am willing to do it?' '
The Science of Fairy Tales
Edwin Sidney Hartland
She,” he thought to himself, “had nothing on Godiva—except a piano cover!
The Dark Star
Robert W. Chambers
Miss Godiva Sleybells was as good as her word; in fact, better.
Local Color
Irvin S. Cobb
And they divined at once that she was gone to Crowland, to Godiva; but why, they could not guess.
Hereward, The Last of the English
Charles Kingsley
The Lady Godiva was very thankful to know that she had yet a son to protect her.
The Boy's Book of Heroes
Helena Peake

British Dictionary definitions for godiva

Godiva

noun

Lady. ?1040–1080, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. According to legend, she rode naked through Coventry in order to obtain remission for the townspeople from the heavy taxes imposed by her husband

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for godiva

Godiva

d.1067, Lady of Coventry and wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. Legend first recorded 100 years after her death, by Roger of Wendover. "Peeping Tom" aspect added by 1659.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper