Where does “dame” come from?
dame (Middle English) comes from Old French dame, from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm, from Proto-Indo-European dem- — to build; to arrange, to put together.
dame (Middle English): lady high-ranking or noble woman
Definitions
- lady high-ranking or noble woman
Ancestry of “dame”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | dame | lady; woman |
| 2 | Late Latin | domna | lady, mistress |
| 3 | Latin | domina | lady or mistress of the house |
| 4 | Latin | Dominus | the Lord; Lord; The Lord |
| 5 | Latin | domus | house, home; any building or abode; native place,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | domos | house, home |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dṓm | home; house |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |