damselfly
|dam-sel-fly|
B2
/ˈdæmzəlˌflaɪ/
slender, delicate insect
Etymology
Etymology Information
'damselfly' originates from the combination of 'damsel' and 'fly', where 'damsel' referred to a young woman or maiden, and 'fly' referred to the insect.
Historical Evolution
'damsel' from Old French 'dameisele' and 'fly' from Old English 'flēoge' combined to form the modern English word 'damselfly'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'damsel' referred to a young woman, but in 'damselfly', it metaphorically describes the delicate and slender nature of the insect.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a slender-bodied insect of the suborder Zygoptera, related to dragonflies but typically smaller and weaker in flight.
The damselfly hovered gracefully above the pond.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/06/17 15:03