townswoman

[tounz-woom-uhn]

noun

plural

townswomen 

1. a female native or inhabitant of a town.

2. a female native or inhabitant of one's own or the same town.

Gender Note

See -woman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of townswoman¹

First recorded in 1675–85; town + 's ¹ + woman

Example Sentences

The verdant costume for just one townswoman involves 900 yards of ombré-dyed organza ribbon.

From New York Times

He catches some marlins, beds a grateful townswoman when he needs a bit of extra cash and drinks beers at a kitschy bar.

From The Guardian

In “Beasts of No Nation,” there are two or three small speaking parts for women: a mother, who appears at the beginning; a crazy townswoman; the madam of a brothel; an aid worker who appears at the end.

From Salon

Other Townswoman Don’t like that Belle keeps referring to our home as “this poor provincial town.”

From Washington Post

She is not clad like a townswoman.”

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inhabitant 
• national 
• resident 
• taxpayer