Dictionary Definition
schoolmistress n : a woman schoolteacher
(especially one regarded as strict) [syn: schoolmarm, schoolma'am,
mistress]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Noun
schoolmistress (Plural: schoolmistresses)- A woman in charge of a school.
Extensive Definition
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred
to a male school teacher. This usage survives in
British
public
schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.
The teacher in charge of a school was the
headmaster. This
again survives in public schools, but has been replaced by head
teacher in other British schools (although headmaster is still
often used colloquially, particularly in
grammar schools) and is equivalent to the principal
in American
schools. The term headmaster also survives in some American
and Commonwealth
private schools.
A range of other terms was derived from this,
including deputy headmaster (the second most senior teacher),
senior master (used in some public schools instead of deputy
headmaster), second master (the third most senior teacher), and
housemaster (the
master in charge of a boarding
house). Some public schools use other titles as well.
The female equivalent is schoolmistress, which
can be used with all the same prefixes.