dame
dame Lexical Profile
dame Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British The title given to a woman who has been awarded the rank of Knight Commander or Grand Cross in the Order of the British Empire or another order of chivalry, equivalent to the title of Sir for a man.
"The renowned actress was made a Dame in recognition of her decades of service to the performing arts."
An elderly or mature woman of authority, distinction, or high social standing.
"She was widely regarded as the grand dame of twentieth-century American literary criticism."
North American A woman or girl (used chiefly in dated informal or slang contexts).
"In classic hard-boiled detective novels, the story often begins when a mysterious dame walks into the investigator's office."
British A comic stock character of a middle-aged or older woman in traditional British pantomime, typically played by a male actor in extravagant drag.
"The veteran comedian delighted the holiday audience with his hilarious performance as the pantomime dame."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'Dame' (capitalized) is a formal title of high honor equivalent to 'Sir' for a knight, whereas in dated American slang, 'dame' is an informal and sometimes patronizing term for a woman.
• Rhymes for dame
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Old French 'dame' (meaning 'lady' or 'mistress'), which derives from Latin 'domina', the feminine form of 'dominus' ('master' or 'lord').