schoolmarm

[ skool-mahrm ]

nounOlder Use.
  1. a female schoolteacher, especially of the old-time country school type, popularly held to be strict and priggish.

Origin of schoolmarm

1
1835–45, Americanism; variant of schoolma'am

Other words from schoolmarm

  • schoolmarmish, adjective

Words Nearby schoolmarm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use schoolmarm in a sentence

  • Or Boston's schoolmarm-ish Institute for Healthcare Improvement, which features the grim series, Profiles in Improvement.

  • Ill stop at the schoolhouse and see the schoolmarm, he said, and ask what is to be done, though I know she will laugh at me.

    Fighting the Sea | Edward A. Rand
  • “I appreciate your confidence—your telling me of your life,” said the schoolmarm, in lieu of something better.

    'Me-Smith' | Caroline Lockhart
  • The schoolmarm scarcely knew what to say; his explanation seemed so entirely satisfactory to himself.

    'Me-Smith' | Caroline Lockhart
  • In confusion, “Babe” began to remove his spurs, thereby serving notice upon the schoolmarm that he had “come to set a spell.”

    'Me-Smith' | Caroline Lockhart
  • Susie had felt herself rebuffed, and, like the schoolmarm, Ralston had laughed at her with his eyes.

    'Me-Smith' | Caroline Lockhart

British Dictionary definitions for schoolmarm

schoolmarm

/ (ˈskuːlˌmɑːm) /


nouninformal
  1. a woman schoolteacher, esp when considered to be prim, prudish, or old-fashioned

  2. British any woman considered to be prim, prudish, or old-fashioned

Origin of schoolmarm

1
C19: from school 1 + marm, variant of ma'am . See madam

Derived forms of schoolmarm

  • schoolmarmish, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012