Mistress and Missis

[mata hati]

When did the term Mistress ( for a married or mature lady) cease to be used and the term Missis start? and why?

[Clanad]

Our friends at Take Our Word For It tell us around 1828.
As to the reasoning; "...It (the term Mrs.)is simply an abbreviation of the word mistress, which used to be pronounced "mistress" and was a title of courtesy. The contracted form of the word, pronounced "missus", became attached to the abbreviation, and using mistress (pronounced "mistress") as a title of courtesy fell out of disuse. It was most certainly by 1828 that the "missus" title was the only pronunciation of the word mistress and of its abbreviation Mrs..."

[mata hati]

Wow! Super answer Clanad. I've wondered about it for a long while - it's one of those silly things that wakes you up at night .. er should I get out more ?
Mata

[Senga 2]

Hi Mata, don't know about the official stuff but in the 1960's my grannie (originally from ayrshire) still always referred to married women, herself included as mistress. I haven't heard it since she died.

[mata hati]

Yes, it was certainly an old way of addressing someone - and nowadays it's meaning is rather dubious. I wonder how that came about?

[Lil O'lady]

The fact that mistress came to mean a kept woman some time in the later 19th century is just one of those examples of how a langauge evolves. Meanings change over decades / centuries -'naughty' was pretty damn vile in Shakespeare's time; and my son in law nearly died when I asked him to 'bone the chicken' recently.....oh dearie, I did not realise that one.

[Parsfan]

I always thought the definition of Mistress was something between a mister and a mattress.