Mesdames

5 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Madame \Ma`dame"\, n.; pl. {Mesdames}. [F., fr. ma my (L. mea) +
     dame dame. See {Dame}, and cf. {Madonna}.]
     My lady; -- a French title formerly given to ladies of
     quality; now, in France, given to all married women.
     --Chaucer.
     [1913 Webster] Mad-apple



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Madam \Mad"am\, n.; pl. {Madams}, or {Mesdames}. [See {Madame}.]
     1. A gentlewoman; -- an appellation or courteous form of
        address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a
        married lady; -- much used in the address, at the
        beginning of a letter, to a woman. The corresponding word
        in addressing a man is {Sir}; often abbreviated ma'am when
        used as a term of address.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The woman who is in charge of a household.
        [PJC]
  
     3. The woman who is in charge of a brothel.
        [PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mesdames \Mes`dames"\ (F. ?, E. ?), n.,
     pl. of {Madame} and {Madam}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  madame
       n : title used for a married Frenchwoman
       [also: {mesdames} (pl)]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mesdames
       See {madame}