little woman

little woman (plural little women)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little,‎ woman.
   • 1918 February (date written), Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Je ne parle pas français”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 105:

     This impression was so strong that often when we were together and he got up and left a little woman just when she did not expect him to get up and leave her, but quite the contrary, I would explain: “He can't help it, Baby. He has to go back to his ship.”

2. (informal) A wife.
   • 1848 December 19, Charles Dickens, “The Gift Diffused”, in The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. A Fancy for Christmas-time, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC, pages 74–75:

     “My little woman,” said her husband dubiously, “are you quite sure you're better? Or are you, Sophia, about to break out in a fresh direction?”

3. (euphemistic) A female person with dwarfism, or short stature resulting from a medical condition.

• little lady