/bel"deuhm, -dam/ , n.
1. an old woman, esp. an ugly one; hag.
2. Obs. grandmother.
Also, beldame /bel"deuhm, -daym'/ .
[ 1400-50; late ME, equiv. to bel- grand- ( bel, belle fine; see BEAU, BELLE) + dam mother (see DAM 2 ) ]
/bel"deuhm, -dam/ , n.
1. an old woman, esp. an ugly one; hag.
2. Obs. grandmother.
Also, beldame /bel"deuhm, -daym'/ .
[ 1400-50; late ME, equiv. to bel- grand- ( bel, belle fine; see BEAU, BELLE) + dam mother (see DAM 2 ) ]
Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary. Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House . 2012