# damsel

/ˈdæmzəɫ/ (US) · /dˈæmsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/damsel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a young woman

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Archaic

a young woman who is not married, especially in old stories.

For teachers: a young, unmarried woman, often implying noble status or youth and innocence.

- The old story tells of a brave knight who saves a damsel from a tower.
- The poet employed the term 'damsel' to evoke a sense of medieval chivalry, though the word felt out of place in his modern setting.

Usage: Commonly found in the fixed phrase 'damsel in distress'.

Teaching tip: This 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.

### 2. a mill component

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small part in a grain mill that makes a clicking sound.

For teachers: a device in a grain mill that strikes the hopper to keep the grain moving.

- The steady clicking of the damsel meant the mill was working correctly.
- The miller adjusted the damsel to ensure a consistent flow of grain into the stones during the morning grind.

Usage: Used specifically in the context of traditional milling machinery.

## Examples

- The knight rode into the castle to rescue the damsel.
- In many classic fairy tales, the damsel is locked in a tower until a brave knight arrives to set her free.
- The modern retelling subverts the traditional trope by transforming the damsel from a passive victim into an active participant in her own rescue.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.