beldam

UK: /ˈbɛldəm/ US: (bel′dəm, -dam)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bel•dam  (bel′dəm, -dam), n. 

1. an old woman, esp. an ugly one; hag.
2. [Obs.] grandmother.

Also, bel•dame  (bel′dəm, -dām′). 

• Middle French bel, belle fine; see beau, belle) + dam mother (see dam²)
• late Middle English, equivalent. to bel- grand- (1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beldam, beldame / ˈbɛldəm/ noun

1. an old woman, esp an ugly or malicious one; hag
2. an obsolete word for grandmother

Etymology: 15th Century: from bel- grand (as in grandmother), from Old French bel beautiful, from Latin bellus + dam mother, variant of dame