Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- (in Spain and Portugal) an older woman serving as escort or chaperon of a young lady.
- a governess.
noun
- (in Spain and Portugal, etc) an elderly woman retained by a family to act as governess and chaperon to young girls
1660s, “chief lady in waiting upon the queen of Spain,” also “an elderly woman in charge of girls from a Spanish family,” from Spanish dueña “married lady, mistress” (fem. of dueño “master”), from Latin domina (see dame). Sense extended in English to “any elderly woman chaperon of a younger woman” (1708).