shipmistress

plural shipmistresses

1. A female shipmaster.

   He has gone to fetch our good shipmistress, but he says to begin the discussion without him.

   2008, Isobelle Carmody, The Stone Key, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →ISBN, page 319

   5 more examples

   Women nowadays invade all professions. The other day we announced the death of a lady shipmaster—or shipmistress.

   1890 May 10, Seafaring, volume 4, number 81, page 14, column 3

   “In whole truth, Shipmistress,” Dagla added, “I don’t believe Morruchan wants your help.[…]”

   1969, Poul Anderson, Beyond the Beyond, Signet Books, page 93

   “Time will aid us too, impatient one. You will see. For there is much to be resolved, beyond tonight, is there not? What of your shipmistress? The fair Cathula?”

   1983, Nigel Tranter, Lord of the Isles, Coronet Books, published 1994, →ISBN, page 222

   “The Light illumine you and your vessels, Shipmistress, and send the winds to speed you all.”

   1996, Robert Jordan, A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time; book seven), Orbit, →ISBN, page 248

   I wouldn’t want to be caught in these winds without a shipload of strong oarsmen to fight our way back. I hope our shipmistress knows what she’s doing.

   2005, Juliet E. McKenna, Western Shore, Orbit, →ISBN, page 188