matriarch

Of Latin origin, via or reinforced by Old French matriarche, from Latin māter (“mother”) + -archa, -arches, from Ancient Greek -άρχης (-árkhēs), from ἀρχός (arkhós, “chief”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ergʰ- (“to begin, rule, command”). By surface analysis, matri- +‎ -arch.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪtɹɪˌɑːk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪtɹiɑɹk/

matriarch (plural matriarchs)

1. A female leader of a family, a tribe or an ethnic or religious group.
   1. The dominant female in a family group of elephants
   2. (chiefly Northern England) A strong and domineering older woman; a battle axe.
      • 2005 September 3, Alan Burton, The British Consumer Co-operative Movement and Film, 1890s-1960s, Manchester University Press, →ISBN, page 174:

        A typical Lancashire matriarch ushers the reassured townsfolk off the premises, confident that her money is safe: 'You don't deserve any business doubting t' Co-op. It's sound enough, and them that doubt it ought to be ashamed of themselves.'

      • 2016 May 23, Barry J. Faulk, British Rock Modernism, 1967-1977: The Story of Music Hall in Rock, Routledge, →ISBN, page 67:

        Although the drummer has no musical segments in the film, he remains a central visual presence, inevitably accompanied—and visually framed—by his aunt, the stereotypically loud, forceful, and domineering northern matriarch.

      • 2022 February 3, Matthew Hammett Knott, A Class of Their Own: Adventures in Tutoring the Super-Rich, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

        Cornelius Hazelwood – naturally I gave him a name – saw to it that Felix could tell his prime numbers from his square roots. Then Beryl Swinehodge, an imperious Yorkshire matriarch, rolled up to test him on food pyramids.

2. A female founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.

• materfamilias

• highfather
• paterfamilias
• patriarch

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˌmaː.triˈɑrx/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑrx

matriarch f (plural matriarchen, diminutive matriarchje n, masculine patriarch)

1. matriarch