girl
[ gurl ]
/ gɜrl /
noun
Origin of girl
1250–1300; Middle English
gurle, girle, gerle child, young person; compare Old English
gyrela, gi(e)rela, item of dress, apparel (presumably worn by the young in late OE period, and hence used as a metonym)
usage note for girl
Some adult women are offended if referred to as a
girl, or informally, a
gal. However, a group of adult female friends often refer to themselves as
the girls, and their “girls night out” implies the company of adult females. Also, a woman may express camaraderie by addressing another woman as
girl, as in
You go, girl! or
Attagirl!
Referring to one's female office assistant or housekeeper as the girl or my girl, once in common use, is now considered unacceptable. Working girl, meaning “a woman who works,” girl/gal Friday, meaning “a female office assistant,” and other occupational terms such as career girl and college girl, are also dated and often perceived as insulting. Working girl as a slang term meaning “a prostitute” is sometimes used by female prostitutes as a euphemistic self-reference. See also lady, woman.
Referring to one's female office assistant or housekeeper as the girl or my girl, once in common use, is now considered unacceptable. Working girl, meaning “a woman who works,” girl/gal Friday, meaning “a female office assistant,” and other occupational terms such as career girl and college girl, are also dated and often perceived as insulting. Working girl as a slang term meaning “a prostitute” is sometimes used by female prostitutes as a euphemistic self-reference. See also lady, woman.
Words nearby girl
Example sentences from the Web for girl
British Dictionary definitions for girl
girl
/ (ɡɜːl) /
noun
Word Origin for girl
C13: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Low German
Göre boy, girl
usage for girl
The use of
girl as in meaning
4, to refer to a woman of any age, is highly likely to be considered old-fashioned or to cause offence