different between actress vs showgirl

English

Alternative forms

• actoress

Etymology

From Old French actriz, actrice, from Latin ?ctr?x, feminine agent noun of ag? (“act”). Equivalent to actor +? -ess. Doublet of actrix.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ak.t??s/, /?ak.t??s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æk.t??s/

Noun

actress (plural actresses, masculine actor)

1. A female who performs on the stage or in films. [from 17th c.]
   • 2011, "Not going quietly", The Economist, 27 Jan 2011:

     Court documents appear to show that Ian Edmondson, a senior News of the World journalist, had authorised Mr Mulcaire to hack phones belonging to Sienna Miller, an actress.

2. (now rare) A female doer or "actor" (in a general sense). [from 16th c.]
   • 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 290:

     My mental anguish, and the dreadful scenes in which I had been an actress, advanced the period of my labour.

Usage notes

• Actor may also be used to refer to a female player.

Translations

Anagrams

• Casters, casters, recasts, scarest

Scots

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?aktr?s/

Noun

actress (plural actresses)

1. actress

References

• Eagle, Andy, ed. (2016) The Online Scots Dictionary, Scots Online.

English

Etymology

show +? girl

Noun

showgirl (plural showgirls)

1. A non-starring but physically beautiful female dancer in an often lavishly produced theatrical revue; a chorine.

   She was a Las Vegas showgirl when she was younger.