Plural of grandma: informal term for a female grandparent.
From 'grandmother,' which combined 'grand-' (greater, more important) with 'mother.' The informal 'grandma' emerged in the 1600s as a more casual, affectionate version.
The word 'grandmother' only became common in English after the 1300s—before that, people just said 'mother,' which must have made family conversations confusing!
Gendered diminutive ('grandmas' vs. 'grandfathers'). Historically reinforces maternal softness stereotype while grandfathers receive authority framing. Usage patterns show women's elder status often diminished through informality.
Use 'grandmothers' and 'grandfathers' with equal formality, or use names when appropriate to avoid gendered tone shifts.
["grandmothers","maternal grandparents","elder women by name"]
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