Etymology of Madam - Wordsmith.org

First of all, hello everyone, I know it has been some time.

Anyway, the reason I am posting is that I am attempting to understand the word Madam. I was taught, even when attending University and gaining my English Lit. Degree, that the definition and accepted terminology for such was, "a kept woman" or "a woman who runs a brothel/cat house".

Today, now that I currently reside within the "South", I have been informed of an alternate definition. That of, a term of respect. After having to stamp down my ire and indignation, and an interesting argument debate, I made the difficult decision to employ the ever ready and all powerful, internet; where upon I mashed in the word and Merriam Webster Dictionary spewed the following catenated mess at me:

Quote:

plural mes�dames : lady �used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman
2
: mistress 1 �used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or especially with a designation of rank or office
3
: the female head of a house of prostitution
4
: the female head of a household : wife

I am so confused! Where and how or why did this word evolve to have a dual meaning of both a woman of respect and a woman of social faux pas???

And I shall refrain from mentioning that of Mistress for now.

Its earliest use:

Originally Posted By: "the OED"

1 a. A form of respectful or polite address (substituted for the name) originally used by servants in speaking to their mistress, and by people generally in speaking to a woman of high rank; subsequently used with progressively extended application, and now, though no longer as frequently as in previous centuries, employed in addressing a woman of whatever rank or position; the female counterpart of sir

Later on it came to have "various derisive or opprobrious uses" like "An affected fine lady" and "A female brothel-keeper".

As for "why", well that's semantic change for you.

Madam or Ma'am and Sir is becoming more popular way of addressing someone we don't know....to be respectful....if their name is not known.

I had learned that Mistress and Master were for young or unmarried people and Madam (Ma'am) and Mister for older or married people. Esquire after the man's name to indicate a property owner (old, now) or a law degree.
I think there are many regional uses of these terms that have changed over the years.
I still remember when we moved to the South and my mom called someone to ask about buying a crib. The lady she spoke to was horrified, as a crib is a whorehouse. She should have asked for a 'baby bed'. *lol*

I visited a small outstate town once and with the friend
with whom I was eating at this small cafe, ordered
"taverns". I figured he knew what he was eating and I could
not go too far wrong. Turned out to be hamburger and
tomato sauce on a bun, what I'd call a "sloppy Joe". The
waitress asked us, when we had finished, if we wanted
"bars". I had not a clue. Turned out to be brownie-like
cake. So there are many different regional differences.
And these were less than 150 miles from my home and in the
same state.

I truly appreciate all that has been said, and yes, I guess it is pure topographical semantics. *shrugs* I guess it just goes to show that one should always try and keep an open mind and learn what an individuals "meaning" is prior to making a conclusion as to the reference being made.

and here in the Northwest you can go into a bar and order a 'schooner', which to me is a ship. It's also a large pitcher of beer!

And in NZ, VV a crib might be a batch or a holiday house by the sea. Funny isn't it!

Here a "crib" can be a place to store grain, like corn, as
in "corn crib".

In England, I used to crib (plagiarise) my mate's homework, and would make a crib-sheet (a tiny aide-memoire) to smuggle into an exam.