Etymology

damsel in distress

Today it means: A young woman perceived as being helpless in a dangerous situation and requiring rescue. Full definition →

French demoiselle en détresse
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The story

  1. French · calque ofdemoiselle en détresse
  2. English todaydamsel in distress

Calque of French demoiselle en détresse, from the classic theme in many dramatic forms.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.