the.com/lady
A title that climbed from breadmaker to bloodline, then to anyone with manners.
old rootFrom Old English hlaefdige, meaning loaf-kneader
counterpartLord meant loaf-guardian, the bread's bodyguard
insect honorLadybug named for the Virgin Mary
social riseOnce strictly noble, now a polite default
first ladyAmerican term coined in the 1800s press