big mama

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

big′ ma′ma, (often caps.)[Informal.]

1. Dialect Terms, Informal Terms a man's sweetheart, girlfriend, or wife.
2. Dialect Terms, Informal Terms a woman regarded as the head of a family.
3. Dialect Terms, Informal Terms the female founder or a leading female member of a company, organization, movement, etc.
4. Dialect Terms [Chiefly Southern U.S.] grandmother.

• 1950–55