damsel

damsel
also damosel or damozel noun Etymology: Middle English damesel, from Anglo-French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella young noblewoman, diminutive of Latin domina lady Date: 13th century a young woman: a. archaic a young unmarried woman of noble birth b. girl

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Damsel — Dam sel (d[a^]m z[e^]l), n. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL. domicella, dominicella, fem., domicellus, dominicellus …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • damsel — late 12c., from O.Fr. dameisele woman of noble birth (Mod.Fr. demoiselle young lady ), modified (by association with dame) from earlier donsele, from Gallo Romance *domnicella, dim. of L. domina lady (see DAME (Cf. dame)). Archaic until revived… …   Etymology dictionary

  • damsel — [n] maiden colleen, lady, lass, lassie, miss, virgin, woman, young girl, young woman; concepts 414,415 …   New thesaurus

  • damsel — ► NOUN archaic or literary ▪ a young unmarried woman. ORIGIN Old French dameisele, from Latin domina mistress …   English terms dictionary

  • damsel — [dam′zəl] n. [damesele < OFr dameisele < VL * dominicella, dim. of L domina: see DAME] Now Literary a girl; maiden …   English World dictionary

  • damsel —    A damsel was originally a young unmarried lady of noble birth, but soon after the introduction of the word from French it appears to have taken on the general meaning of ‘young woman’, ‘a country lass’. In French the word demoiselle was… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • damsel — UK [ˈdæmz(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms damsel : singular damsel plural damsels an old word for a young woman who is not married • a damsel in distress …   English dictionary

  • damsel — [[t]dæ̱mz(ə)l[/t]] damsels N COUNT A damsel is a young, unmarried woman. [LITERARY, OLD FASHIONED] He keeps coming to the aid of this damsel in distress. Syn: maiden …   English dictionary

  • damsel — dam|sel [ˈdæmzəl] n old use [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: dameisele, from Latin domina lady of high rank ] 1.) a young woman who is not married 2.) damsel in distress a young woman who needs help or protection used humorously …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • damsel — dam|sel [ dæmzl ] noun count an old word for a young woman who is not married a damsel in distress HUMOROUS a woman who is in trouble and needs help …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • damsel — noun (C) 1 old use a young woman who is not married 2 damsel in distress humorous a young woman who needs help or protection …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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