Etymology : Middle English damesel, from Old French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin domnicella young noblewoman, diminutive of Latin domina lady
Pronunciation : 'dam-z&l
Function : noun
Date : 13th century
1. lass, maiden. damsel\dam"sel\ , n. [oe. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. of. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, f. demoiselle young lady; cf. of. damoisel young nobleman, f. damoiseau; fr. ll. domicella, dominicella, fem., domicellus, dominicellus, masc., dim. fr. l. domina, dominus. see:
dame, and cf. demoiselle, doncella.].
2. a young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, damsel pepin; damsel richard, prince of wales. [obs.].
3. a young unmarried woman; a girl; a maiden. with her train of damsels she was gone, in shady walks the scorching heat to shun. sometimes a troop of damsels glad, goes by to towered camelot.
4. (milling) an attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking the hopper.
5. A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales.
6. A young unmarried woman; a girl; a maiden.
7. An attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking the hopper.
8. A damsel is a young, unmarried woman. He keeps coming to the aid of this damsel in distress. = maiden.