joan

n. a common female given name.

n. a female given name, derived from the Old French Johanne, corresponding to the masculine John.

“Joan of Arc is a famous historical figure from France.”

“The biography of Joan Didion explores her significant impact on American literature and journalism during the twentieth century.”

n. an old-fashioned way to refer to any ordinary woman.

n. a generic or placeholder name for a woman, often implying a lower social class.

“In the old story, every Jack had his Joan.”

“The ballad uses the name Joan as a conventional archetype for a rustic young woman of the period.”

Archaic · Informal

n. a tight-fitting hat worn by women in the 1700s.

n. a close-fitting cap for women that was fashionable during the mid-18th century.

“The woman in the 18th-century painting wore a simple white joan.”

“Fashion historians note that the joan was a staple of mid-1700s female attire, typically made of linen or lace.”

Archaic · Technical