English · Slang Attested

Queen Bess

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The queen of clubs.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

the Queen of Clubs,—perhaps because that queen, history says, was of a swarthy complexion.—North Hants. See Gentleman’s Magazine for 1791, p. 141.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Kings & rulers Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “Queen Bess” mean?

The queen of clubs.

Is “Queen Bess” formal or informal?

Queen Bess is generally slang.

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