from the French damoisel or damoiseau, an appellation anciently given to all young people of either sex, that were of noble or genteele extraction, as the sons and daughters of princes, knights, and barons: thus we read of Damfel Pepin, Damfel Louis le Gros, Damfel Richard prince of Wales.

From the sons of kings this appellation first passed to those of great lords and barons, and at length to those of gentlemen who were not yet knights.

At present, damfel is applied to all maids or girls not yet married, provided they be not of the vulgar.

DANAEE, in antiquity, a coin somewhat more than an obolus, used to be put into the mouths of the dead, to pay their passage over the river Acheron.