donzelle

maiden, damsel; little madam, young madam

From Middle French dansielle, donselle, donzelle, from Old French donzele, borrowed from Old Occitan donçela, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella, from earlier *dominicella (literally “little maidenly (woman)”), from Classical Latin domina (“mistress”) + -ica + -ella. Compare also Italian donzella, Old Occitan donçela. Doublet of damoiselle and demoiselle.