subs. (old).—Formerly a term of respect, now only in depreciation. The original and successive usages are—(1) a grandmother; (2) a great-grandmother (PLOT used it of a woman who has lived to see five generations of descendants); (3) a woman advanced in years (spec. 16th c. of nurses); and (4) a loathsome old woman, a hag, a furious woman, ‘a scolding old woman’ (B. E.). [Quotations are given for last and degraded sense only].
d. 1586. SIDNEY, Arcadia (1613), 10. A BELDAME … accused for a witch.
1608. R. JOHNSON, The Famous Historie of the Seaven Champions of Christendom, 212. Come all you witches BELDAMES, and Fortunetellers.
c. 1641. MONTAGU, Acts and Mon. (1642), 77. Tarquinius taking her to be some frantick BELDAME.
1706. ADDISON, Rosamund, i. 3. Fly from my passion, BELDAME, fly!
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, xxxv. That accursed BELDAM whom she caused to work upon me.
1857. F. LOCKER-LAMPSON The Skeleton in the Cupboard in London Lyrics (1862), 100. The BELDAMS dance, the caldron bubbles.
