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Where does the word "damsel" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin dominicella, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "damsel" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin dominicella, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Damsel’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: dominicella meant “young lady.” A diminutive of 'domina', lady. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dameisele. The same word gave 'mademoiselle'. It reached English by 1200s as damsel. 'damsel in distress' comes from chivalric romance. Today, damsel means a young unmarried woman.
- Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient dominicella "young lady", a diminutive of 'domina', lady.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval dameisele "young noblewoman", the same word gave 'mademoiselle'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s damsel "young lady", 'damsel in distress' comes from chivalric romance.