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 of damsel

• girl
• maiden
• maid

Examples of damsel in a Sentence

knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress

Recent Examples on the Web

Even though the tides are slowly turning, many video games have formulaic plots that reinforce old-school gender and heteronormative roles, often featuring a hero saving a damsel in distress from a menacing villain. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2026

This gender flipped, damsel-in-distress scenario continues to play out for Veska is no ordinary woman. — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 22 May 2026

Yes, many of these bugs, such as the damsel bug and lacewing, prey on pests like aphids and caterpillars, helping to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 May 2026

The game saw Mario once again saving a damsel (Princess Peach, then called Toadstool) from his nemesis, Bowser (née King Koopa), which would remain his motivation for countless sequels for decades. — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026

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 

variants also damosel or damozel

ˈdam-ə-ˌzel

: girl sense 1b, maiden

Etymology

Middle English damesel "damsel," from early French dameisele (same meaning), from Latin domina "lady, mistress" — related to dame