beldam

[prettygoodword]

beldam - n., a old woman.


Formerly, specifically, grandmother: bel-, grand (from belle, beautiful) in Middle English was used as a relationship prefix -- thus also belsire, grandfather. Dam, of course, is a mother in this sense.

---L.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

not to be confused with Bedlam, which is what my dyslexic eye first saw :-)

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

You're not the only one. :-)

---L.