Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun idiomatic, obsolete, slang An
old maid .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
An old maid's punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, was said to be the leading of apes in Hell.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word ape leader.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
chained_bear commented on the word ape leader
"An old maid; their punishment after death, for neglecting to increase and multiply, will be, it is said, leading apes in hell."
See also Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, in which Katherine accuses her father of wanting to make her lead apes in hell by attempting to marry off her younger sister before her.
September 5, 2008