viscountess

[vahy-koun-tis]

noun

1. the wife or widow of a viscount.

2. a woman holding in her own right a rank equivalent to that of a viscount.

viscountess

/ ˈvaɪkaʊntɪs /

noun

1. the wife or widow of a viscount

2. a woman who holds the rank of viscount in her own right

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of viscountess¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; viscount, -ess