Meanings
noundragon lady (plural dragon ladies)
plural dragon ladies
- An East Asian woman who is stereotypically strong, deceitful, domineering, or mysterious.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
First used in "Terry and the Pirates" in December 1934, for a female pirate based on the historical woman pirate Lai Choi San. The "dragon" part refers to her Chinese background (as dragons are symbols in Chinese culture) and her fierce attitude.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
dragon lady. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dragon%20lady
MLA
“dragon lady.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dragon%20lady. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dragon lady,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dragon%20lady.
Source: dragon lady on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.