Lady
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
In England, the proper title of any woman whose husband Is higher in rank than baronet or knight, or who is the daughter of a nobleman not lower than an earl, though the title is given by courtesy also to the wives of baronets and knights. Cent. Diet. See Dame; Knight. The word lady Is derived from hloef dig (loaf day), which being applied to the mistress of a bouse came to be softened into the familiar term lady. On that day, it was the custom for the mistress of the manor to distribute bread to her poorer neighbors.
Townsend, Manual of Dates, title Lady; 1 Chamb. Book of Days 154.