Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Origin: madam

ma'am

 noun
     
ma'am
1 American English spoken used to address a woman in a polite and respectful way:
May I help you, ma'am?
2 British English spoken used to address the Queen or another woman in authority
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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