Battle-axe (woman)

A battle-axe is a derogatory traditional stereotype describing a woman characterized as aggressive, overbearing and forceful.

The term originated as a gender-independent descriptor in the early 20th century, but became primarily applied to women around the middle of the century.

[2][1][3] The battleaxe is one of several stereotypes found in nursing – a tyrannical, fierce matron exemplified by Nurse Ratched or Hattie Jacques in popular medical dramas and comedies.

[4] Judith Furse played a "battle-axe woman" in the film Carry On Cabby.

[5] Another example of the battleaxe in popular culture is in soap operas, for which the "quintessential archetype"[6] was Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples in the world's longest-running television soap opera,[7] Coronation Street.