damsel
Damsel (noun) means an old-fashioned or literary word for a young, unmarried woman, especially one in a story who needs rescuing. Example: “The knight rode off to save the damsel from the dragon.”
How to use damsel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA young lady, almost always used now in the phrase "damsel in distress" rather than in everyday speech.
Archaic or deliberately old-fashioned/literary; not used to describe real women in modern conversation.
Word forms
damsels plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The knight rode off to save the _____ from the dragon.
Etymology
From Old French damoisele, ultimately from Latin domina ("lady, mistress") — the same root that gave us "dame" and the French demoiselle.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “damsel” mean?
The word “damsel” means an old-fashioned or literary word for a young, unmarried woman, especially one in a story who needs rescuing. In plain terms, a young lady, almost always used now in the phrase "damsel in distress" rather than in everyday speech.
How do you pronounce “damsel”?
“Damsel” is pronounced DAM-zuhl (/ˈdæm.zəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “damsel” in a sentence?
Here is “damsel” used in a sentence: “The knight rode off to save the damsel from the dragon.”
What part of speech is “damsel”?
“Damsel” is a noun.
Where does the word “damsel” come from?
The word “damsel” comes from Latin. From Old French damoisele, ultimately from Latin domina ("lady, mistress") — the same root that gave us "dame" and the French demoiselle.