demoiselle


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Related to demoiselle: demoiselle crane

dem·oi·selle

 (dĕm′wə-zĕl′)
n.
1. A young woman.
2. A demoiselle crane.
3. See damselfly.

[French, damsel, from Old French dameisele; see damsel.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

demoiselle

(dəmwɑːˈzɛl)
n
1. (Animals) Also called: demoiselle crane or Numidian crane a small crane, Anthropoides virgo, of central Asia, N Africa, and SE Europe, having grey plumage with long black breast feathers and white ear tufts
2. (Animals) a less common name for a damselfly
3. (Animals) another name for damselfish
4. a literary word for damsel
[C16: from French: young woman; see damsel]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dem•oi•selle

(ˌdɛm wəˈzɛl, ˌdɛm ə-)

n.
1. an unmarried girl or young woman.
2. a small gray crane, Anthropoides virgo, of N Africa and Eurasia, with white neck plumes.
3. a damselfly, esp. of the genus Agrion.
[1760–70; < French; see damsel]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.demoiselle - a young unmarried womandemoiselle - a young unmarried woman    
maiden, maid - an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
2.demoiselle - small brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes of coral reefsdemoiselle - small brilliantly colored tropical marine fishes of coral reefs
percoid, percoid fish, percoidean - any of numerous spiny-finned fishes of the order Perciformes
beaugregory, Pomacentrus leucostictus - a blue and yellow damselfish of Bermuda and Florida and the West Indies
anemone fish - live associated with sea anemones
Abudefduf saxatilis, sergeant major - large blue-grey black-striped damselfish; nearly worldwide
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
"Un de, ma bonne demoiselle!" exclaimed the woman to whom the thimble was offered for sale; this is so common an article as scarcely to command any price.
hale a demoiselle against her will, and then loose dogs at his own brother!
"I hight the Demoiselle Alisande la Carteloise, an it please you."
To-day it is a morality made expressly for Madame the Demoiselle of Flanders."
"Quel nom a cetter jeune demoiselle en les pantoulles jolis?"
Really, that Demoiselle d'Aubigne is very charming!"
To mingle our careless talk with the song of the birds among the dewy leaves, to smile at each other as we gazed on the sky, to turn our steps slowly homewards at the sound of the bell that always rings too soon, to admire together some little detail in the landscape, to watch the fitful movements of an insect, to look closely at a gleaming demoiselle fly--the delicate creature that resembles an innocent and loving girl; in such ways as these are not one's thoughts drawn daily a little higher?
"Ah, she is an industrious little demoiselle. And pretty too.
Each had formed a plan to marry the Demoiselle Cormon, whom Monsieur de Valois had mentioned to Suzanne.
I well recollect that my eye rested on the green door of a rather large house opposite, where, on a brass plate, was inscribed, "Pensionnat de Demoiselles." Pensionnat!
But don't let me talk of misery now; time enough when it comes; ces demoiselles have gone to join the serried ranks of their amiable predecessors.
Most of the young demoiselles are robed in a cloud of white from head to foot, though many trick themselves out more elaborately.