Damsel and Dame Are the Same Word, One Made Small
A damsel is a young unmarried woman. The word is an old diminutive of dame, and it survives mainly in one phrase.
A damsel is a young unmarried woman, a word now almost entirely archaic. It is the diminutive of *dame*, from Latin *domina*, a lady of the house — so a damsel is a little lady. English keeps it alive almost exclusively in *damsel in distress*, and in the *damselfly*, a delicate relative of the dragonfly.
- A young unmarried woman (archaic). *A damsel of the court.*
- Damsel in distress — a stock character. *The damsel in distress trope.*
- Damselfly — a slender insect. *A blue damselfly.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | damsel | A young damsel. |
| Plural | damsels | Two damsels. |
| Related | dame | A grand dame. |
| Related | madam | Yes, madam. |
| Related | damselfly | A common damselfly. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The damsel in distress is a familiar trope.Literary criticism.
- Damselflies rest with wings folded.Dragonflies hold them open.
- Dame and damsel share a root.Latin *domina*.
Words from *domina* and *dominus*
- Dame — a lady, and a British honour
- Madam — from *ma dame*, my lady
- Damsel — a little lady
- Dominate — to rule as master
- Don — Spanish and Italian title, from *dominus*
From Old French *dameisele*, a diminutive of *dame*, from Latin *domina*, mistress of a household, from *domus*, house.
Is damsel still used?
Only in fixed phrases and deliberately archaic or humorous writing. It is not a current word for a young woman.
Damselfly or dragonfly?
Damselflies are slimmer and rest with their wings folded along the body. Dragonflies hold their wings out flat.