damsel

[ dam-zuh l ]
/ ˈdæm zəl /

noun Literary.

a young woman or girl; a maiden, originally one of gentle or noble birth.

Origin of damsel

1150–1200; Middle English damisel < Anglo-French (Old French damoisele) < Vulgar Latin *dominicella, equivalent to Latin domin(a) lady (see dame) + -i- -i- + -cella feminine diminutive suffix

Example sentences from the Web for damsel

British Dictionary definitions for damsel

damsel
/ (ˈdæmzəl) /

noun

archaic, or poetic a young unmarried woman; maiden

Word Origin for damsel

C13: from Old French damoisele, from Vulgar Latin domnicella (unattested) young lady, from Latin domina mistress; see dame