Mary Ellen

plural Mary Ellens

1. UKhistoricalLiverpoolA working-class woman, typically dressed in a shawl, carrying one or more babies, and working as a market trader.

   Dad had just laughed when Rose said she wouldn't mind being a Mary Ellen but Mam had tightened her mouth and sniffed.

   2011, Katie Flynn, Rose of Tralee

   2 more examples

   Young and middle-aged women often caring for large families were known as 'Mary Ellens'. They dressed in a most distinctive fashion with large black shawls draped over their shoulders and fastened at the middle. The shawl formed a large pocket under each arm; often one would hold a baby, the other a bag and perhaps a little food which the Mary Ellen had managed to shoplift. Their men were known as Dicky Sams. […] Typically a Mary Ellen would hock her wedding ring for a barrow and a load of produce. […] At the end of the day she would have enough money to pay for the barrow and retrieve her ring.

   2010, Tim Parker, Signalman Jones, page 18

   Luke staggered blindly down the street, almost bumping into an old woman in black with a shawl drawn close about her head and shoulders—a Mary Ellen they called them round here.

   2010, Anne Baker, Goodbye Liverpool