cinderella
/ˌsɪndəˈɹɛlə/ proper noun, noun
Forms cinderellas
- proper noun A popular fairy tale embodying a classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression and triumphant reward.
- proper noun The main character in this story, a mistreated and impoverished girl.
- proper noun (rare) A female given name originating as a coinage.
- noun (figuratively, by analogy) A mistreated and impoverished girl.
- noun (attributive) Something rising unexpectedly from obscurity to success, as a Cinderella team.
- noun (attributive) Something neglected and denied resources, as a Cinderella service. “Cinderella State”
- noun (attributive, informal, colloquial) A procedure or surgery to reshape the feet.
- noun (philately) A stamp or stamp-like label issued for purposes other than postal administration, not issued by a central government, or not listed in most general catalogues.
- noun (rare, derogatory) A woman employed to clean, especially to remove ash from stoves and fireplaces.
Etymology
From cinder + -ella.
From cinder + Italian -ella, as in little cinder girl. Compare French Cendrillon.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “cinderella”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details