女史
じょし · joshi · JLPT N3 · noun
multiple sclerosis
👩📜 女史 = woman 女 + scribe 史: a learned lady, so Ms. for accomplished women
In ancient China, 女史 were women court officials who kept records. Japanese kept the word as a respectful title for distinguished women such as scholars, writers or artists, e.g. 山田女史. Sounds like joshi, close to 女子 (girl), but this one is formal.
女 — pictograph of a kneeling woman
女 is a pictograph originating in oracle bone script, depicting a person kneeling with arms crossed in front, a posture associated with women in ancient China. Over time the form was simplified and squared off into the modern character. Its core meaning of 'woman' or 'female' has remained stable for over three thousand years.