damsel
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
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
Explanation
A young, unmarried woman is a damsel. If you've ever seen a young girl being chased by a rabid dog, then you've witnessed a damsel in distress! The word damsel is a shortened version of the French word, mademoiselle, which is what the French call a young woman who is not married — like the word miss in English. Damsel was originally a word reserved for noblewomen — the rich and fabulous. Nowadays even regular unmarried Janes can be referred to as damsel, though you're really most likely to come across the word damsel being rescued by a prince in a fairytale.
Vocabulary lists containing damsel
Holding Up the Universe
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"Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She finished shooting a third Enola Holmes film at the end of June, and has also starred in Netflix's Damsel and The Electric State, as well as two Godzilla films.
From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025
Two of the winemakers were on hand for the event: Two Vintners’ Morgan Lee and Damsel Cellars’ Mari Womack.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2021
Additionally, Brown is to star and executive produce the fantasy film Damsel for Netflix.
From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2021
Damsel I’m still not entirely sure what this movie is about, but I’m not sure it really matters.
From The Verge • May 26, 2018
Damsel, I am much displeased that thou shouldst appear so cheerful and gay of spirit when thou beholdest me in such sorrow.
From The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions by Pyle, Howard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
