What does "dame" mean?

Dame: The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a common school; as, a dame's school. In the dame's classes at the village school. Emerson.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman.
  2. 3.A mother; -- applied to human beings and quadrupeds. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sources