Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a prostitute.

1879

‘Cunt on Co-Operative Principles’ in Pearl 6 Dec. 25: It is proposed to start a club, where at least twenty pretty governesses would be engaged [...] to assimilate to every variety of taste.

2. a dominatrix.

1997

(con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 140: ‘Does she do any governess work?’ ‘Governess? What, teaching?’ ‘I suppose one could say that. I rather had in mind a little of the old spanking.’.