different between cobber vs mistress

English

Etymology

Origin unknown. Perhaps from Yiddish ????? (khaver, “comrade”), which is borrowed from Hebrew ???? (khavér, “friend”), or, perhaps from the British dialectal term cob (“take a liking to”).. The suggestion that it is a self-referential collective term for convicts and immigrants who departed for Australian shores from the Irish port of Cobh seems chronologically unlikely.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?b.?(?)/
• Rhymes: -?b?(?)

Noun

cobber (plural cobbers)

1. (Australia) A pal, buddy, mate, friend; often used in direct address by one male to another.

   What's up, cobber?

   G'day cobber!

   • 1953, Nevil Shute, In the Wet, 2010, unnumbered page,

     “He?s a good cobber, even if he is the parson,” he said at last. “He?s a good cobber.”

     “That?s right,” said Jim patiently. “He?s a good cobber, and he?s the parson. Now you buzz off and leave him be. We?ve got business to talk here.”
2. (Australia) A sweet consisting of a small block of hard caramel covered in chocolate.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:friend

Translations

References

1. Australian National Dictionary Centre » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms » C

English

Etymology

From Middle English maistresse and Old French maistresse (French maîtresse), feminine of maistre (“master”). This may be broken down as mister +? -ess.

Pronunciation

• enPR: m?s?tr?s, IPA^(key): /?m?st??s/

Noun

mistress (plural mistresses)

1. A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership

   Synonyms: (applicable to either sex) boss, (applicable to either sex) head, (applicable to either sex) leader

   male equivalent: master

2. A female teacher

   Synonym: schoolmarm

   male equivalent: master

3. The other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations

   Synonyms: (applicable to either sex) bit on the side, fancy woman, comaré, goomah; see also Thesaurus:mistress

   Antonyms: cicisbeo, fancy man

4. A dominatrix

   male equivalent: master

   • 2006, Amelia May Kingston, The Triumph of Hope (page 376)

     As part of BDSM play they can enhance the domineering tread of a mistress or hobble the steps of a slave.

5. A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it

   • A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic.

6. a woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart
7. (Scotland) A married woman; a wife
8. (obsolete) The jack in the game of bowls
9. A female companion to a master (a man with control, authority or ownership)
10. female equivalent of master
11. female equivalent of mister

Usage notes

In the extramarital sense, mistress is often narrowly taken to mean a woman involved in a committed extramarital relationship (an affair), often supported financially (a kept woman). It can also be broadly taken to mean a woman involved in an extramarital relationship regardless of the level of commitment, but requires more than a single act of adultery.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

mistress (third-person singular simple present mistresses, present participle mistressing, simple past and past participle mistressed)

1. (transitive, rare) Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
2. (intransitive) To act or take the role of a mistress.

See also

• (titles) (of a man): Mr (Mister, mister), Sir (sir); (of a woman): Ms (Miz, mizz), Mrs (Mistress, mistress), Miss (miss), Dame (dame), (of a non-binary person): Mx (Mixter); (see also): Dr (Doctor, doctor), Madam (madam, ma'am) ^{(Category: en:Titles)}

References