damsel
noun
dam·sel ˈdam-zəl 
variants or less commonly damosel or damozel
ˈda-mə-ˌzel
: a young woman:
a
archaic : a young unmarried woman of noble birth
b
: girl
Synonyms
- demoiselle
- girl
- maid
- maiden
- miss
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress
Recent Examples on the Web The damsel in distress who trips over air in an action movie or the nerd who can never get the girl. 
Kourtney Pope, refinery29.com, 7 July 2022 Her father and the Lizaldes, including her love interest Eduardo, treat Carlota like a damsel in distress. Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 29 July 2022 Rising star Julia Butters holds her own even though she is quickly made a full-time hostage/damsel. Sasha Urban, Variety, 14 July 2022 In both cases, she was mostly stuck being a classic superhero love interest, a damsel in distress who must constantly be rescued from one supervillain or another. Christian Holub, EW.com, 9 July 2022 Tom Cruise plays the humble hero, Mia Sara the damsel in distress and Tim Curry the demonic villain in this sumptuous 1985 fantasy tale directed by Ridley Scott. Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022 The cover is Channing Tatum on horseback holding a damsel. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 1 Apr. 2022 Moving even faster than the train is a flying saucer emanating a bright cone of light and clearly intent on beaming up the damsel. Mary Carole Mccauley, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2022 Similarly, Collins, redefines Dejah Thoris from the nearly naked damsel in distress to Barsoom’s chief scientist and a warrior who frequently out-fights Carter. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2022 See More
Kourtney Pope, refinery29.com, 7 July 2022 Her father and the Lizaldes, including her love interest Eduardo, treat Carlota like a damsel in distress. Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 29 July 2022 Rising star Julia Butters holds her own even though she is quickly made a full-time hostage/damsel. Sasha Urban, Variety, 14 July 2022 In both cases, she was mostly stuck being a classic superhero love interest, a damsel in distress who must constantly be rescued from one supervillain or another. Christian Holub, EW.com, 9 July 2022 Tom Cruise plays the humble hero, Mia Sara the damsel in distress and Tim Curry the demonic villain in this sumptuous 1985 fantasy tale directed by Ridley Scott. Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2022 The cover is Channing Tatum on horseback holding a damsel. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 1 Apr. 2022 Moving even faster than the train is a flying saucer emanating a bright cone of light and clearly intent on beaming up the damsel. Mary Carole Mccauley, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2022 Similarly, Collins, redefines Dejah Thoris from the nearly naked damsel in distress to Barsoom’s chief scientist and a warrior who frequently out-fights Carter. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English damesel, from Anglo-French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella young noblewoman, diminutive of Latin domina lady
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
damsel
noun
dam·sel ˈdam-zəl
: girl sense 1, maiden
damsel
noun
as in girl
a young unmarried woman knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- girl
- maiden
- maid
- demoiselle
- virgin
- lass
- miss
- filly
- ingenue
- lassie
- debutante
- ingénue
- senorita
- sister
- bird
- chit
- deb
- señorita
- sheila
- mademoiselle
- colleen
- senhorita
