(Fr. damoiselle; Norm. demicelle; Ital. damigella, donzella), according to Skinner, denotes a woman of noble rank, but without a title, a gentlewoman, q.d. dominicella or porea domina. In more recent times it was applied to any young unmarried woman, especially to such as were in the intermediate condition between that of ladies and the lower class. In ancient times this appellation was bestowed on all young persons of either sex who were of noble or gentle blood, as the sons and daughters of princes, knights, and barons. Thus we read of Damsel Pepin, Damsel Louis le Gros, Damsel Richard Prince of Wales. From the sons of kings this appellation first passed to those of great lords and barons, and at length was conferred on young gentlemen following the profession of arms but not yet knighted. Damoiseau in French, and damigello and donzello in Italian, are the masculine correlative respectively of damoiselle, damigella, and donzella.