weaker vessel

noun

A woman; women collectively.

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Meanings

nounweaker vessel (plural weaker vessels)

plural weaker vessels

  1. datedidiomaticoffensiveA woman; women collectively.

    Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Peter 3:7
    2 more examples

    Certainly, when Satan first made the Attempt upon Eve, he did not think he should have so easily conquered her. . . . Well might she be said to be the weaker Vessel, tho’ Adam himself had little enough to say for his being the stronger.

    1727, Daniel Defoe, chapter 8, in The Political History of the Devil

    When women are the advisers, the lords of creation don't take the advice till they have persuaded themselves that it is just what they intended to do. Then they act upon it, and, if it succeeds, they give the weaker vessel half the credit of it. If it fails, they generously give her the whole.

    1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 41, in Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 女性, 婦道人家 /妇道人家
  • 女性 (nǚxìng)a woman; women collectively
  • 婦道人家 /妇道人家 (fùdao rénjia)a woman; women collectively
Finnish heikompi astia
  • heikompi astiaa woman; women collectively
French le sexe le plus faible, vaisseau plus fragile
  • le sexe le plus faiblea woman; women collectively
  • vaisseau plus fragilea woman; women collectively
German das schwächste Werkzeug
  • das schwächste Werkzeuga woman; women collectively
Italian il sesso debole
  • il sesso debolea woman; women collectively
Romanian ființa mai slabă
  • ființa mai slabăa woman; women collectively
Russian сла́бый пол, немощнейший сосуд
  • сла́бый пол (slábyj pol)a woman; women collectively
  • немощнейший сосуд (nemoščnejšij sosud)a woman; women collectively
Swedish det svagare kärlet, det svagare könet
  • det svagare kärleta woman; women collectively
  • det svagare köneta woman; women collectively
Cite this entry
APA

weaker vessel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weaker%20vessel

MLA

“weaker vessel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weaker%20vessel. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “weaker vessel,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/weaker%20vessel.

Source: weaker vessel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.