dame

[deym]

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noun

(initial capital letter) (in Britain)

the official title of a female member of the Order of the British Empire, equivalent to that of a knight.
the official title of the wife of a knight or baronet.

(formerly) a form of address to any woman of rank or authority.

a matronly woman of advanced age; matron.

Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a term used to refer to a woman: Some dame cut me off and almost caused an accident.

Ecclesiastical. a title of a nun in certain orders.

a mistress of a dame-school.

Archaic. the mistress of a household.

Archaic. a woman of rank or authority, especially a female ruler.

Origin of dame

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin domina, feminine of dominus lord, master

Usage note

Dame is sometimes perceived as insulting when used to refer generally to a woman, unless it is a woman of rank or advanced age.

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

Related Words for dame

woman, miss, matron, female, gal

Examples from the Web for dame

Contemporary Examples of dame

Over a glass (or more) of port, we toast to the Queen…and Dame Judi Dench.
Join The Mile High (Dining) Club
Allison McNearney
September 26, 2014
Dame Diana Rigg, who plays Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has turned tales of critical bashing into a delightful play.
Diana Rigg: GOT's Queen of Thorns Speaks
Nico Hines
August 22, 2014
That was your first big film with real actors, and several stars, like Michael Fassbender, Dame Judi Dench, etc.
True Detective Director Cary Fukunaga’s Journey from Pro Snowboarder to Hollywood’s Most Wanted
Marlow Stern
February 26, 2014
In the coming weeks, Ahrendts will collect a DBE from the British Government, becoming a Dame of the British Empire.
Angela Ahrendts to Become Dame; Google Glass Unveils Stylish Frames
The Fashion Beast Team
January 28, 2014
Angela Lansbury has been created a Dame in the Queen's New Year honors list, for services to drama and charity.
Murder, Dame Angela Lansbury Wrote
Tom Sykes
December 31, 2013

Historical Examples of dame

If any dame sent me up for three years and then wanted money from me, do you think she'd get it?
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
One of these wings was set aside for Dame Kronk and the little girl.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
This paper was my contract, and mon petit Dame explained that she was not my mother.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Mon petit Dame came downstairs, with her grave husband, and kissed me.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
At that time I had no secretary, but mon petit Dame served me as such.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt

British Dictionary definitions for dame

dame

noun

(formerly) a woman of rank or dignity; lady

a nun who has taken the vows of her order, esp a Benedictine

archaic, mainly British a matronly or elderly woman

slang, mainly US and Canadian a woman

Also called: pantomime dame British the role of a comic old woman in a pantomime, usually played by a man

Word Origin for dame

C13: from Old French, from Latin domina lady, mistress of a household

Dame

noun (in Britain)

the title of a woman who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire or any of certain other orders of chivalry

the legal title of the wife or widow of a knight or baronet, placed before her nameDame Judith Compare Lady

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 dame

early 13c., from Old French dame "lady, mistress, wife," from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina "lady, mistress of the house," from Latin domus "house" (see domestic). Legal title for the wife of a knight or baronet. Slang sense of "woman" first attested 1902 in American English.