Plural of beldam; old women, especially those considered ugly, cruel, or witch-like.
From Middle French 'belle dame' (beautiful lady), used ironically to refer to old women. The term evolved in English (16th century) to mean an old hag or witch, with the meaning shifting from the original French compliment to a pejorative term for elderly women.
It's a perfect example of how language can flip meanings on their head—'beautiful lady' became an insult for old women, showing how beauty standards and ageism have been baked into language for centuries.
Variant plural of beldam with same derogatory coding against elderly women; the multiple spellings reflect historical inconsistency in recording women's devaluation.
Do not use. Substitute 'elder women' or specify the actual person or group.
["elder women","women elders","older people"]
Women's age and experience should be honored, not mocked; avoiding such terms validates elderly women's full humanity.
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