A female archer or the wife of an archer, particularly in medieval times.
From 'bow' (the weapon) plus the feminine suffix '-ess', following the pattern of words like 'countess' and 'actress'. The term emerged in Middle English to describe women associated with archery.
Medieval women archers were more common than people think—they appear in historical records defending castles and hunting. Adding '-ess' to create female versions of jobs was a standard medieval practice, though many of these words have faded from use.
The '-ess' suffix feminizes nouns by marking gender as a default modifier. Historical function: denote wives or female subordinates of male title-holders.
Use ungendered forms when possible. If gender context is relevant, specify 'woman who bows' rather than relying on '-ess' diminishment.
["bow maker","bower","one who bows"]
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