JEZEBELS

(fl. 9th century bc), a phoenician princess, traditionally the great-aunt of dido and in the bible the wife of ahab king of israel. she was denounced by elijah for introducing the worship of baal into israel (1 kings 16:31, 21:5–15, 2 kings 9:30–7). her use of make-up was especially condemned by puritan england.

a shameless or immoral woman.