zitellahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zitella_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezitella, n.
Revised 2021

zitellanoun

Now rare.
  1. a1660–
    In Italian contexts: a young woman, spec. one who is unmarried or a virgin.
    1. a1660
      The Zitelle..walked in Procession to s: Peter, where the were shew'd the Veronica.
      J. Evelyn, Diary anno 1645 (1955) vol. II. 292
    2. 1670
      The Procession of the Zitelle vpon our Ladyes day in Lent.
      S. Wilson, Lassels's Voyage of Italy (new edition) ii. 250
    3. 1679
      A Curtizan! and a Zittella too? a pretty contradiction!
      A. Behn, Feign'd Curtizans iii. i. 24
    4. 1886
      There were..dancing men in black and white, zingaras from Granada, and zitellas from Naples.
      B. Roosevelt, Copper Queen vol. III. iii. 55
    5. 2017
      ‘The bosses thought that stealing from three zitelle would be like stealing candy from a baby,’ says Irene, ‘but this time they messed with the wrong zitelle.’
      Guardian (Nexis) 14 October

zitella, n. was revised in March 2021.

zitella, n. was last modified in July 2023.