virago
[ vi-rah-goh, -rey- ]
/ vɪˈrɑ goʊ, -ˈreɪ- /
noun, plural vi·ra·goes, vi·ra·gos.
a loud-voiced, ill-tempered, scolding woman; shrew.
Archaic. a woman of strength or spirit.
Nearby words
Origin of virago
before 1000; Middle English, Old English < Latin virāgō, equivalent to vir man + -āgō suffix expressing association of some kind, here resemblance
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for virago
British Dictionary definitions for virago
virago
/ (vɪˈrɑːɡəʊ) /
noun plural -goes or -gos
a loud, violent, and ill-tempered woman; scold; shrew
archaic a strong, brave, or warlike woman; amazon
Derived Formsviraginous (vɪˈrædʒɪnəs), adjectivevirago-like, adjective
Word Origin for virago
Old English, from Latin: a manlike maiden, from vir a man
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for virago
virago
late 14c., "man-like or heroic woman," from Latin virago, from vir "man" (see virile). Ælfric (c.1000), following Vulgate, used it in Gen. ii:23 (KJV = woman):
Beo hire nama Uirago, þæt is, fæmne, forðan ðe heo is of hire were genumen.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper