Obs. or rare arch. Forms and etym.: see WOMAN sb. and -HEAD. = next.

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c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 299 (Fairf. MS.). And shal I prey, and weyve womanhede? Ibid. (c. 1386), Knt.’s T., 890. The queene anon for verray wommanhede Gan for to wepe. Ibid. (c. 1386), Man of Law’s T., 753. Thow glorie of wommanhede, thow faire may.

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c. 1448.  Hoccleve, Min. Poems (1892), 50. To recommande me … To hir benigne & humble wommanhede.

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c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 691. Fra Inglismen to saiff my womanheid.

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1496–7.  Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 126. She is amyable and good, with great wysdome and womanhead.

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1508.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 160. Suete Womanhede I saw cum in presence.

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1570.  Drant, Serm., D viij b. The Church of Christ is a woman, and hath womanhead towardes her beloued.

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1597.  in J. Melvill’s Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 432. Deir damiselles! leave af your dreirie mean, And grow in godlines to womanhead.

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1627.  Drayton, Moon-calf, Agincourt etc. 165. When I sawe her rampant to transcend All womenhead [sic].

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a. 1631.  Donne, Relique, 3. Graves have learn’d that woman-head To be to more then one a Bed.

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1894.  J. Davidson, Ballads & Songs, 3.

        Now you surely know
The wrongs of womanhead
At last are fairly dead.

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