den mother

noun

1. (in the Boy Scouts) a woman who serves as an adult leader or supervisor of a cub scout den.
2. Informal. a woman who serves as an adviser or protector to a group of people.

Word History and Origins

Origin of den mother¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

From his rarefied position, Conway watched Leo become what he called a “den mother” to the justices.

From Salon

As his stay expanded from weeks to years, he realized he had been taken in by a den mother of sorts.

From New York Times

She fielded everything with the calm humor and gentle decisiveness of a den mother.

From New York Times

The collector and television producer Douglas S. Cramer once described Ms. Corcoran as “sort of a den mother” to the Los Angeles art world.

From New York Times

For Seattle jazz musicians of the late 1940s, Thurlow was not only a respected singer but a hip den mother who made it her business to connect everyone on the scene.

From Seattle Times