demoiselle etymology

Etymology:

Old French "damisele," diminutive of "dame" ("lady")

Meaning:

A young unmarried woman of noble or gentle birth; a young lady.

Origin:

The word "demoiselle" originated in the 12th century as a term for a young lady of high social status. It was derived from the Old French word "dame" ("lady"), which itself originated from the Latin word "domina" ("mistress of the house").

As society evolved, the meaning of "demoiselle" shifted slightly. In the 14th century, it began to be used to refer to any unmarried young woman, regardless of her social status. In the 19th century, it became a more general term for a young woman, sometimes with connotations of innocence or naivete.

In some cultures, "demoiselle" has also been used as a title for a woman of high social standing, such as a member of the royal family or a lady of the court. In modern usage, "demoiselle" is still occasionally used in a formal or literary context to refer to a young woman, but it is more commonly replaced by the term "miss" or "mademoiselle."

demoiselle relate terms

  • damsel

    Etymology The word damsel originated from Old French damoisele which in turn came fr

  • dame

    Etymology The word dame comes from Middle English dame which in turn comes from Old

  • maiden

    Etymology The word maiden is derived from the Middle English word mayden which in tu

  • median

    Etymology The word median comes from the Latin medianus which means middle or in

  • maid

    Etymology The word maid comes from the Old English word mægden meaning young woma

  • amid

    Etymology The word amid has its roots in three distinct languages Old English on m

  • substitution

    Etymology The word substitution comes from the Latin word substitutus which means p

  • party

    Etymology The word party comes from the Old French word partie which means part po

  • emblem

    Etymology The word emblem is derived from the Greek word emblema meaning something

  • innovation

    Etymology The word innovation originates from the Latin word innovatus which means

  • rise

    Etymology The word rise comes from the Old English verb rīsan which means to ascen