damsel
damsel Lexical Profile
damsel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A young unmarried woman, originally one of noble birth (now chiefly archaic, literary, or humorous).
"In medieval romances, the brave knight often embarks on a quest to rescue a captive damsel."
A slender, predatory flying insect of the suborder Zygoptera that resembles a dragonfly but folds its wings parallel to the body when at rest; a damselfly.
"A metallic-blue damsel perched delicately on a reed at the edge of the pond."
Any of various small, brightly colored marine fishes of the family Pomacentridae that inhabit tropical coral reefs; a damselfish.
"The diver watched a territorial yellowtail damsel dart among the branching corals."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary English, 'damsel' is primarily used in historical, literary, or humorous contexts, most famously in the stock phrase 'damsel in distress'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'damoisele' (young lady of noble birth), which derives from Vulgar Latin 'dominicella', a diminutive of Latin 'domina' (lady or mistress).