Dictionary entry

Daughter

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Daugh″ter (?), n.; pl.Daughters (#); obs. pl. Daughtren (#). [OE. doughter, doghter, dohter, AS. dohtor, dohter; akin to OS. dohtar, D. dochter, G. tochter, Icel. dōttir, Sw. dotter, Dan. dotter, datter, Goth. daúhtar,, OSlav. dŭshti, Russ. doche, Lith. duktē, Gr. θυγάτηρ, Zend. dughdhar, Skr. duhitṛ; possibly originally, the milker, cf. Skr. duh to milk. √68, 245.] 1. The female offspring of the human species; a female child of any age; — applied also to the lower animals.

2. A female descendant; a woman.

This woman, being a daughter of Abraham. Luke xiii. 16.

Dinah, the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughter of the land. Gen. xxxiv. 1.

3. A son's wife; a daughter-in-law.

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters. Ruth. i. 11.

4. A term of address indicating parental interest.

Daughter, be of good comfort. Matt. ix. 22.

Daughter cell(Biol.), one of the cells formed by cell division. See Cell division, under Division.