rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydamAnimal mother
noun

dam

The female parent of an animal.

The foal stands beside its dam.

Etymology
damOld Frenchlady; mistress

The older word names a lady or female head of a household. Its shortened form became a breeding term for an animal’s mother.

More examples

  • The breeder recorded the puppy’s sire and dam.
  • The calf followed its dam across the field.
  • Her dam had the same dark markings.

Forms

dam · dams

Similar words

mother
The general parent term.
sire
The male parent of an animal.