[Cf. SPOKESMAN.] A woman who speaks for another or others; a female advocate or representative; a woman speaker.

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1654.  Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. i. 173. I know not how he had wonne upon my wenches, They were his spokes-women, and high Abetters.

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1656.  W. Du Gard, trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., 229. After hee hath set his affection upon som woman (either by himself, or by a spokesman, or spokeswoman) hee is called a Wooer.

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1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxiii. ‘Did ye ever see the foul thief?’ asked her neighbour. ‘Na!’ replied the other spokeswoman.

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1840.  P. D. Hardy, Holy Wells Irel., 25. A most unexpected proposal, which the spokeswoman … undertook to make.

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1890.  Athenæum, 11 Oct., 476/3. She [Mrs. Henry Wood] is emphatically the spokeswoman of the middle class.

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  Hence Spokeswomanship.

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1894.  Saintsbury, in Sat. Rev., 3 March, 230. The spokeswomanship of the Flower and the Leaf can no more decide the point than any other dramatic or poetic assumption of character by this or another bard.

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