noun
dame
DAYM/deɪm/
A woman, in old-fashioned or stylized speech.
The distinguished dame receives an honor as the attendants bow respectfully.
Etymology
The word broadened from a respectful title for a lady or mistress of a household to a general term for a woman, including slang use without regard to rank.
In context
What's a dame like her doing in a place like this?
peerless dame of the family, celebrated for a fine arm.
More examples
- That dame knows every secret in this town.
- The narrator describes her as a tough dame with a kind heart.
- Two dames stroll into the diner in his latest detective story.
Forms
dame · dames