dame
oxford
views updated May 18 2018dame / dām/ •
n. 1. (Dame) (in the UK) the title given to a woman equivalent to the rank of knight. ∎ a woman holding this title.2. inf. a woman. ∎ archaic or humorous an elderly or mature woman.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
dame
oxford
views updated May 14 2018dame †female head or superior; as a form of address or title; †mother, dam XIII; (arch.) lady of the house XIV. — (O)F. :- L.
domina fem. corr. to
dominus lord.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
