demoiselle
English
![](../I/m/Calopteryx_splendens.jpg)
Banded demoiselle (damselfly of the family Calopterygidae), Calopteryx splendens
Etymology
Borrowed from French demoiselle. The bird is so called on account of the grace and symmetry of its form and movements.
Noun
demoiselle (plural demoiselles)
- A damselfly of the family Calopterygidae.
- A young lady; a damsel; a lady's maid.
- The Numidian crane (Grus virgo).
Synonyms
- (damselfly): broad-winged damselfly
French
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old French damoisele, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella, diminutive of Latin domina. Compare Spanish doncella and damisela, Italian donzella and damigella.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /də.mwa.zɛl/
audio (file)
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Further reading
- “demoiselle” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
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