dame

C1 · Advanced Countable noun American English · Informal · Slang

n. an old-fashioned and casual way to say 'woman', often used in old movies.

n. a slang or informal term for a woman, now considered dated and occasionally patronising.

“In those old detective movies, the hero is always meeting a mysterious dame.”

“The hard-boiled detective novels of the 1940s frequently employed the term 'dame' to describe the female protagonists who entered the investigator's office.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Theater British English

n. a funny female character in a traditional British play, usually played by a man.

n. a traditional stock character in British pantomime, typically a mature woman portrayed by a male actor in drag for comedic effect.

“The children laughed when the pantomime dame walked onto the stage in a giant, colourful dress.”

“The success of a traditional British pantomime often hinges on the comedic timing and audience rapport of the actor playing the dame.”