beldam

[bel-duh m, -dam]

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noun

an old woman, especially an ugly one; hag.

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)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for beldam

crone, hag

Examples from the Web for beldam

Historical Examples of beldam

To which, after some Perswasion to the contrary, the venerable Beldam waited on her.
The Works of Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn
"He's only doing it to make sure I'm not a beldam," said Gwen innocently.
When Ghost Meets Ghost
William Frend De Morgan
"This is a make-peace fashion of thine," said the beldam, relaxing into a smile.
Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2)
John P. Kennedy
"Sir Robert has himself written me about that beldam," said the chamberlain.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland
Various
The beldam sat with her face towards Rodolph and the brigand.
The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 1 of 6
Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for beldam

beldam

beldame

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beldam

"aged woman," 1570s; earlier "grandmother" (mid-15c.), from dame (q.v.) in the sense of "mother" + bel-, Middle English prefix expressing relationship (cf. belfader, belsire "grandfather"), from Old French bel, belle "beautiful, fair, fine" (see belle). This "direct relationship" sense of bel is not found in French, where the prefix is used to form words for in-laws.