she-devil

plural she-devils

1. literallyA female devil (as opposed to a he-devil, male devil).

   In order to exorcise this she-devil, the attendants made circles on the walls with charcoal, within each was written: "Adam, Eve, Lilas, avaunt!"

   1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 114

   Synonyms: deviless, devilette

2. figurativelyA woman whose bad temper, cruelty or wicked ways are so extreme as to evoke an image of the devil.

   Monsieur Margot groaned. “Go, then, my friend,” said he, “procure the ladder! Oh, those she devils!—what could make me such a fool!”

   1828, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XVI, in Pelham; or, The Adventures of a Gentleman. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 130

   Synonyms: shrew