damsel
- 01 C1 Advanced
a young woman who is not married, especially in old stories.
a young, unmarried woman, often implying noble status or youth and innocence.
Simple“The old story tells of a brave knight who saves a damsel from a tower.”
In context“The poet employed the term 'damsel' to evoke a sense of medieval chivalry, though the word felt out of place in his modern setting.”
UsageCommonly found in the fixed phrase 'damsel in distress'.
Teacher's tipThis word is almost never used in modern conversation except when being humorous or referring to fairy tales; using it for a modern woman may sound strange or patronising.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a small part in a grain mill that makes a clicking sound.
a device in a grain mill that strikes the hopper to keep the grain moving.
Simple“The steady clicking of the damsel meant the mill was working correctly.”
In context“The miller adjusted the damsel to ensure a consistent flow of grain into the stones during the morning grind.”
UsageUsed specifically in the context of traditional milling machinery.
From Middle English dameisele, from Old French damoisele, from Vulgar Latin domnicella, a diminutive from Classical Latin domina (“mistress, lady”), from dominus, from demh₂-. Doublet of demoiselle, doncella, and donzella.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.