Jewess

[ joo-is ]

/ ˈdʒu ɪs /

noun Older Use: Usually Offensive.

a term used to refer to a Jewish girl or woman.

Origin of Jewess

First recorded in 1350–1400, Jewess is from the Middle English word jewesse. See Jew, -ess

Usage note

First used in the Middle Ages, the term Jewess has been an inoffensive, neutral term for most of its history. With the advent of the civil rights and feminist movements of the 1960s, it began to be considered condescending and has since declined in use. See also -ess.

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

Examples from the Web for jewess

Receive it or not, as thou wilt--she is a Jewess--and her heart is tender toward our tribe.
Zenobia|William Ware

British Dictionary definitions for jewess

Jewess

/ (ˈdʒuːɪs) /

noun

often offensive a Jewish girl or woman

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 jewess

Jewess

late 14c. (late 13c. as a surname), from Old French jüiesse, fem. of jüif (see Jew).