beldam
/ˈbɛldəm
/(also beldame)
noun archaic
1An old woman.We were in an alcove adjacent to one end, next to two ancient beldames who were tucking into a Gargantuan feast....
- And the King comported himself to that aged beldame in all ways with the utmost consideration as though she had been a beautiful dame of the highest degree in the land.
- He was one for consulting the ancient crones and beldames.
1.1A malicious or loathsome old woman.Roused by the sight of one ‘winsome wench’ among the old beldams, Tam shouts to her....
- I returned to the same private school as before, but I returned no longer an innocent child prepared to have irrelevant knowledge poured into my head by the old beldame who ran the place.
- The current view about witches is, we presume, that they were a collection of sour beldams and neurotic girls, unusually prone to hallucinations, who were the victims of terrified or malicious neighbours aided by ignorant and superstitious judges.
Origin
Late Middle English (originally in the sense 'grandmother'): from Old French bel 'beautiful' + dam2.