(n.) The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.

Methuselah abbess antediluvian antique back number chatelaine conservative dad dam dame dodo dowager elder first lady fogy fossil foster mother fud fuddy-duddy genetrix goodwife governess grande dame granny great lady has-been homemaker housewife longhair ma madam mam mama mammy mater materfamilias maternal ancestor matron mid-Victorian mistress mom mommy mossback mother mother superior mummy old believer old crock old dodo old fogy old liner old man old poop old woman old-timer patriarch pop pops reactionary regular old fogy relic square starets stepmother the old woman traditionalist