pucelle

maiden; virgin; metal regulation badge worn on the chest with insignia indicating the formation to which it belongs

“Elle n'est plus pucelle.” — She's no longer a virgin.

Inherited from Middle French pucelle < Old French pucele, first attested in the 10th century as pulcella, from Vulgar Latin *pūllicella, of disputed origin. Possibly a diminutive of Latin pullus (“young of animals, chick”), or pullus as a contraction of *purulus, from purus (“pure”). Alternatively from Latin puella (“girl”) through a Vulgar Latin root *puellicella.