\Dam"sel\, n. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr.
OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young
lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL.
domicella, dominicella, fem., domicellus, dominicellus,
masc., dim. fr. L. domina, dominus. See {Dame}, and cf.
{Demoiselle}, {Doncella}.]
1. A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle
   extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of
   Wales. [Obs.]

2. A young unmarried woman; a girl; a maiden.

         With her train of damsels she was gone, In shady
         walks the scorching heat to shun.     --Dryden.

         Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, . . . Goes by to
         towered Camelot.                      --Tennyson.

3. (Milling) An attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking
   the hopper.