Women or ladies, especially in old-fashioned or respectful contexts; in British tradition, women given high honor titles.
From Old French 'dame' and Latin 'domina' meaning 'lady' or 'mistress of a household.' Originally referred to a woman of rank or authority. In Britain, 'Dame' became the female equivalent of 'Knight,' a formal title of honor.
The word 'dame' is basically the female version of 'master'—both come from the idea of someone ruling a house. But interestingly, 'master' became generic for experts in any field while 'dame' stayed mostly tied to nobility and old-fashioned speech.
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