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demoiselle

[ dem-wuh-zel, dem-uh-; French duh-mwa-zel ]

noun

, plural dem·oi·selles [dem-w, uh, -, zelz, d, uh, -mw, a, -, zel].
  1. an unmarried girl or young woman.
  2. a damselfly, especially of the genus Agrion.
  3. Furniture. a lady's wig stand of the 18th century, in the form of a pedestal table.


demoiselle

/ dəmwɑːˈzɛl /

noun

  1. Also calleddemoiselle craneNumidian crane a small crane, Anthropoides virgo, of central Asia, N Africa, and SE Europe, having grey plumage with long black breast feathers and white ear tufts
  2. a less common name for a damselfly
  3. another name for damselfish
  4. a literary word for damsel
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of demoiselle1

From French, dating back to 1760–70; damsel
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Word History and Origins

Origin of demoiselle1

C16: from French: young woman; see damsel
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Example Sentences

Now, this Demoiselle Gautier, it appears she lived a bit free, if you'll excuse my saying so.

Married to a Demoiselle Chiffreville, of a family of celebrated chemists.

Gertrude approached me, and said in a low tone: 'Did demoiselle remark that we only mounted five steps after leaving the court?'

It has been said that D'Hugues was one, but the demoiselle's conduct for some time past renders that improbable.

With the duck come demoiselle cranes, curlews, storks, and sandpipers of various species.

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demographydemoiselle crane