beldam

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bel·dam

or bel·dame  (bĕl′dəm, -dăm)
n.
An old woman, especially one who is considered ugly.
[Middle English, grandmother : bel, indicating respect (from Old French bel, fine, from Latin bellus; see deu- in Indo-European roots) + dame, lady; see dame.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

beldam

(ˈbɛldəm) or

beldame

n
1. archaic an old woman, esp an ugly or malicious one; hag
2. an obsolete word for grandmother
[C15: from bel- grand (as in grandmother), from Old French bel beautiful, from Latin bellus + dam mother, variant of dame]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bel•dam

(ˈbɛl dəm, -dæm)

also bel•dame

(-dəm, -ˌdeɪm)

n.
an old woman, esp. an ugly one; hag.
[1400–50; late Middle English: grandmother <bel- grand- (< Middle French bel fine; see belle) + dam mother (see dam 2]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.beldam - an ugly evil-looking old womanbeldam - an ugly evil-looking old woman  
beldame, crone, hag, witch
old woman - a woman who is old
2.beldam - a woman of advanced agebeldam - a woman of advanced age    
beldame
old woman - a woman who is old
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

beldam

or beldame
noun
An ugly, frightening old woman:
crone, hag, witch.
Slang: biddy.
Archaic: trot.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in classic literature ?
The wrinkled beldams involved themselves in their rusty cloaks as he passed by; even the mild-featured maidens seemed to dread contamination; and many a stern old man arose, and turned his repulsive and unheavenly countenance upon the gentle boy, as if the sanctuary were polluted by his presence.
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But the strong-willed old beldam scowled, and beckoned, and flung the energy of her purpose so forcibly at this poor combination of rotten wood, and musty straw, and ragged garments, that it was compelled to show itself a man, in spite of the reality of things.
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and yet you look fat and fair, child,' says the old beldam; and with that she stroked me over the face.
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I have heard old beldams Talk of familiars in the shape of mice, Rats, ferrets, weasels and I wot not what, That have appeared and sucked, some say, their blood.
Blasphemy, Swearing, and Bad Behaviour in The Witch of Edmonton

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