■ noun
1》 a woman in charge of domestic and medical arrangements at a boarding school or other establishment.
↘ Brit. the woman in charge of the nursing in a hospital (official term now senior nursing officer ).
↘ chiefly US a female prison officer.
2》 a married woman, typically one who is dignified or staid.
Derivatives
~hood noun
~ly adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from L. ~a , from mater , matr- 'mother'.