English

Noun

dudette ‎(plural dudettes)

1. (slang, often humorous) Term of address for a woman.
   • 2015 September 23, Kimberly Pierceall, “Strait releases new album, will play Las Vegas in 2016”, in Associated Press, reproduced on Yahoo! Music:

     It's an album [by George Strait] with ballads and toe-tappers for those "dudes and dudettes" reminiscing about high school football games, family and life over a cold beer.

2. (slang, often humorous) A cool woman, especially a surfer or skater.
3. (slang, often offensive) A manly woman.
   • 2013, Sam Kauffman, MADDY - Courage and Heart: Life Lessons From a Puppy Handbook, AuthorHouse (ISBN 9781491834282), page 138

     GARDENS. AND. BEING. A. GIRL. Maddy was a dainty and feminine tomboy with a disposition both loving and tough as nails. She was a “dudette” and a debutant. What could have been clashing opposites were perfectly blended in her.

   • 2013, Judy Faust; Punch Faust, The MOTs File: Memories, Observations, and Thoughts, AuthorHouse (ISBN 9781491827123), page 88

     As my (metal) knees set off all the security thingies, I am subjected to touchy, feely sessions—usually by a dudette with fat, sweaty hands—before being allowed to wait at the gate for hour after hour. The Joy Of Watching Hockey It is a lovely fall.

4. (slang) A cowgirl, especially a tenderfoot.
   • 1940, Oren Arnold, John Prentiss Hale, Hot irons: heraldry of the range

     Most memorable thing about the first branding work a dude or a dudette witnesses is likely to be the heart-rending " BAWR- R-R-R-R!" of the calf or other animal under the hot iron.

   • 1944, Minute Man

     "Dudettes" in cowgirl outfits combed the business district of Phoenix

   • 2000, Ruth Jean Dale, Almost a Cowboy (ISBN 9780373258789)

     The dudettes met their horses that morning.

5. (slang) A cowboy's wife, or a woman who moves out west with the intention of marrying a cowboy.
   • 1941, Travel

     I'll be cow—hooked if she ain't the best looking thing that's come over the mountains since I married my own dudette!

   • 1949, Arizona Cattlelog

     Saturday evening, March 11, the Dudettes (wives and sweethearts of the Jaycees ) will give their annual all- Western dance at Bud Brown's Barn.

   • 2005, Lesley Poling-Kempes, Ghost Ranch, University of Arizona Press (ISBN 9780816523474), page 48

     Visiting dudettes found the shy man of the land irresistible.

   • 2015, Verna Clay, Forever Kisses: Book 7 of Romance on the Ranch Series, M.O.I. Publishing, page 92

     I can't believe a month ago I was living my life as usual, and now I'm a dudette about to become a pioneer traveling on a wagon train.

Synonyms

• dudess

Translations

Anagrams

• duetted