A young woman making her formal entrance into society.
The debutante in romance novels will be around 18 years of age. This age can vary, for many reasons — death in the family, readiness, female politics, etc. A debutante has her “come out” where she is introduced to society.
A pert young woman.
An infant or baby.
A child or babe; as, a forward chit; also, a young, small, or insignificant person or animal.
“Did you meet the Martindale chit?”
“Who?”
“The girl barely out of the schoolroom who is drowning in white ruffles over there.”
A bawd, the mistress of a brothel.
–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
May also be referred to as lady abbess — if you’re feeling gentlemanly.
An old maid; their punishment after death, for neglecting increase and multiply, will be, it is said, leading apes in hell.
–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
This one occasionally pops up in Regency novels. Awful, isn’t it?
