taskmistress

American  

[task-mis-tris, tahsk-] / ˈtæskˌmɪs trɪs, ˈtɑsk- /

noun

1. a woman whose function it is to assign tasks, especially burdensome ones, to others.

2. a woman who supervises others' work rigorously.

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Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of taskmistress

First recorded in 1595–1605; task + mistress

Example Sentences

In the sweeping Scottish Highlands, Claudia Winkleman has played taskmistress for three weeks over an ever-shrinking band of players stationed at Ardross Castle.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2022

This description probably makes Ho sound like a taskmistress – an approachable one, but a drill coach more than the life coach that she is.

From Salon • Nov. 24, 2022

Uncle Clifford is a taskmistress, but she minds her dancers less in the way of a madam than a mother hen.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2022

Ivana Trump was an immigrant from communist Czechoslovakia and a taskmistress who would not brook dissent.

From Time • Nov. 29, 2

But Wiggleswick, bent, hoary, deaf, crabbed, evil old ruffian that he was, like most ex-prisoners instinctively obeyed the word of command, and meekly accepted Zora as his taskmistress.

From Septimus by Locke, William John