From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Duenna \Du*en"na\, noun; pl. {Duennas}. [Sp. due[~n]a, do[~n]a, fr. L. domina. See {Dame}.]
1. The chief lady in waiting on the queen of Spain. --Brande.
2. An elderly lady holding a station between a governess and companion, and appointed to have charge over the younger ladies in a Spanish or a Portuguese family. --Brande & C.
3. Any old woman who is employed to guard a younger one; a governess. --Arbuthnot.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
57 Moby Thesaurus words for "duenna": abigail, amah, au pair girl, ayah, betweenmaid, biddy, bodyguard, cavalier, chambermaid, chaperon, companion, conductor, convoy, cook, dame, educatress, escort, esquire, fellow traveler, femme de chambre, fille de chambre, gentlewoman, girl, governess, guard, handmaid, handmaiden, hired girl, housemaid, instructress, kitchenmaid, lady-help, lady-in-waiting, live-in maid, live-out maid, maid, maidservant, mistress, nursemaid, parlormaid, safe-conduct, schooldame, schoolmarm, schoolmistress, scullery maid, servant girl, servitress, shepherd, soubrette, squire, swain, tutoress, tweeny, upstairs maid, usher, waiting maid, wench
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