The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pucelle \Pu*celle"\, n. [F., fr. LL. pulicella, fr. L. pullus a young animal. See Pullet.] A maid; a virgin. [Written also pucel.] [Obs.]
Lady or pucelle, that wears mask or fan.
--B. Jonson.
La Pucelle, the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"maid," mid-15c., especially in reference to Joan of Arc (called in Old French la pucelle from c.1423), according to French sources from Vulgar Latin *pulicella "maid" (source also of Italian pulcella), diminutive of Latin pulla, fem. of pullus "young animal," especially a chicken (see foal (n.)), but there are difficulties with this derivation. Also, in 16c. English, "a drab, a slut."
Wiktionary
n. 1 (label en archaic) A girl, a maiden; a virgin (often with reference to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan%20of%20Arc). 2 (label en obsolete) A prostitute, a slut.
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "pucelle".
His own ship, the ship he had been aboard at Trafalgar and which was captained by his friend, Joel Chase, though whether Chase was still a captain, or aboard the Pucelle or even alive, Sharpe did not know.
He just knew that he and Grace had known happiness on board the ship that had been named by her French builders for Joan of Arc, La Pucelle or the virgin.
Sharpe stared aft again, but the Pucelle was lost in the dark loom of the land.
The tall, fair-haired naval Captain commanded the Pucelle, the ship on which Sharpe had served at Trafalgar and he had greeted Sharpe with obviovis delight.
The Pucelle was one of the closest big ships and Sharpe was waiting for its launch to come ashore so that tonight, if the clouds thickened to obscure the moon, they could try to enter the city.
The launch, instead of taking Sharpe to the Pucelle, carried him only as far as the Vesuvius, a bomb ship anchored much closer to the harbor mouth.
By order, Casanova reported to the Tribunal a list of the principal licentious or antireligious books to be found in the libraries and private collections at Venice: la Pucelle.
The Pucelle turned westward, but the fickle wind turned with her so that she had to beat her way out into the Atlantic, thumping the cold waves to spatter spray down the holy-stoned decks.
Led by her voices, she had cast off her father's name to call herself La Pucelle, the Chaste Maid.
On returning to his lodgings he occupied himself with writing an obscene poem in the style of La Pucelle and then, through a fit of rage resembling a spasm, he plunged headlong into the Revolution.
Hotel de la Pucelle, place Jeanne d'Arc, Rouen, 21st December, 186--.
A party of Calliope sailors went below to mend the tiller ropes, while some Pucelles, led by Hopper, the big man who commanded Captain Chase's gig, hoisted a British ensign above the French flag.
The bespectacled enemy officer still tried to render the Pucelle's guns useless by jettisoning their rammers, but Clouter threw the axe and its blade thumped into the man's skull like a tomahawk and his death seemed to still the frenzy, or perhaps it was Captain Chase's insistent voice shouting that the Pucelles should stop fighting because the remaining Frenchmen were trying to surrender.
A party of Calliope sailors went below to mend the tiller ropes, while some Pucelles, led by Hopper, the big man who commanded Captain Chase’s gig, hoisted a British ensign above the French flag.
The bespectacled enemy officer still tried to render the Pucelle’s guns useless by jettisoning their rammers, but Clouter threw the axe and its blade thumped into the man’s skull like a tomahawk and his death seemed to still the frenzy, or perhaps it was Captain Chase’s insistent voice shouting that the Pucelles should stop fighting because the remaining Frenchmen were trying to surrender.