what does debutantes mean?

Answer 1

Debutante is the French word for female beginner, and it is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached adulthood. Originally it meant she was eligible for marriage. At a debutante ball, debutantes are displayed to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marry within a select upper class circle.

Answer 2

A debutante is a young lady from an upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "debut". Often at what is called a debutante ball, a formal dance and social gathing. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

It's kind of like a girl's debut into womanhood. Kind of like an over-glorified sweet 16 party where the girl wears a very fancy gown and there is a very fancy and expensive party to celebrate. Only the very rich do this (it's called a debutante ball) anymore, although in some cultures there are other versions (aka, Sweet 16 in the USA, Quinceañera in Latin American cultures for the girl's 15th birthday, etc.).

Answer 4

Once upon a time, when class was very important to people, the 'upper classes' hit on the idea of letting their daughters make a debut. Debut is just a french word for introduction, or first sighting.
Basically, what it was was a meat market. They were parading their daughters around and saying to all the single men in that rarefied company, that their daughters were now old enough to get married, so here they are, come take your pick.
The debutants were introduced at court, and made their curtsy to the King and Queen. The whole crop of them did it, in one grand swoop, and that marked the beginning of their social season for that year, with lots of balls and dinners etc. Before that, they were regarded as little girls and could peek over the upstairs railing at the festivities going on in the main hall, but weren't allowed to take part.
The debutant's 'season' usually lasted for a year and they were expected to be married by the end of that year.
The debut traditionally took place at about age 18, and the bottom line was they wanted to make sure their daughters hooked up with someone who would be able to support them in the style they were accustomed to, and that they wouldn't run off with the gardener.

Answer 5

Noun1.
debutante - a young woman making her debut into society
deb
adult female, woman - an adult female person (as opposed to a man);

Answer 6

You asked this in the plural sense so the following is the plural definition of debutantes.

Young women introduced into society: young women who are being introduced formally into society by appearing at a formal social event such as a dance or party for the first time

Answer 7

A legal woman

Answer 8

Spoiled little rich girls living off of daddy's bank account, (which he probably accumulated at the taxpayers expense btw!)

Answer 9

A stuck up gold digging slut

Answer 10

basically people like paris hilton and nicole richie who haven't done anything with their lives except be spoiled and yet get tons of fame and money anyway!