Long Meg of Westminster
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A noted virago in the reign of Henry VIII, around whose exploits a comedy (since lost) was performed in London in 1594.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Long Meg of Westminster” mean?
A noted virago in the reign of Henry VIII, around whose exploits a comedy (since lost) was performed in London in 1594.
Is “Long Meg of Westminster” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.