The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prima donna \Pri"ma don"na\; pl. E. Prima donnas, It. Prime Donne . [It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See {Prime, a., and Donna.] The first or chief female singer in an opera. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
prima donna n 1: a vain and temperamental person 2: a distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star [syn: prima donna, diva]