Cinderella

In English

Origin: From cinder, as if little cinder girl. Compare French Cendrillon.

Meaning(s):

-A popular fairy tale embodying a classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression and triumphant reward.

-The main character in this story, a mistreated and impoverished girl. At a royal ball she meets a handsome prince who later identifies her with a dropped article, most commonly a slipper, and removes her from her poverty.

-(attributive) Neglected and denied resources, as a Cinderella service.

-(attributive) Rising unexpectedly from obscurity to success, as a Cinderella team.

-(by analogy) A mistreated and impoverished girl.

-(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.

-(rare disparaging) A woman employed to clean, especially to remove ash from stoves and fireplaces.

-(rare) ( female name -comes from the coinages language-)