beldam

[ bel-duh m, -dam ]

/ ˈbɛl dəm, -dæm /

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)

The beldam caught her cue readily and by innuendo, without giving Lady Ashton the pain of distinct explanation.

Bride of Lammermoor |Sir Walter Scott
The beldam sat with her face towards Rodolph and the brigand.

The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 1 of 6 |Eugne Sue
Was the beldam an enchantress, and were these little animals children, whom she had stolen and made victims of her enchantments?

ZigZag Journeys in Northern Lands; |Hezekiah Butterworth
"He's only doing it to make sure I'm not a beldam," said Gwen innocently.

When Ghost Meets Ghost |William Frend De Morgan

"Sir Robert has himself written me about that beldam," said the chamberlain.

Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland |Various

beldam

/ (ˈbɛldəm) /

archaic an old woman, esp an ugly or malicious one; hag

an obsolete word for grandmother

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