beldam

[ bel-duh m, -dam ]
/ ˈbɛl dəm, -dæm /

noun

an old woman, especially an ugly one; hag.
Obsolete. grandmother.
Also bel·dame [bel-duh m, -deym] /ˈbɛl dəm, -ˌdeɪm/.

Origin of beldam

1400–50; late Middle English, equivalent to bel- grand- (< Middle French bel, belle fine; see beau, belle) + dam mother (see dam2)

Example sentences from the Web for beldam

British Dictionary definitions for beldam

beldam

beldame

/ (ˈbɛldəm) /

noun

archaic an old woman, esp an ugly or malicious one; hag
an obsolete word for grandmother

Word Origin for beldam

C15: from bel- grand (as in grandmother), from Old French bel beautiful, from Latin bellus + dam mother, variant of dame