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doncella

noun
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don·​cel·​la | \ dänˈselə \
plural -s

Definition of doncella

1 : any of several brightly colored wrasses of the West Indies and Florida:
a : the slippery dick and closely related fishes
b : ladyfish sense b
2 : either of two West Indian timber trees (Byrsonima spicata and B. cuneata) valued for their hard wood — compare surette

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History and Etymology for doncella

American Spanish, from Spanish, girl, virgin, housemaid, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin domnicilla, diminutive of Latin domina lady

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Cite this Entry

“Doncella.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doncella. Accessed 7 December 2019.

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