girlish

[ gur-lish ]

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a girl or girlhood:

   girlish laughter.

ˈgirlish

/ ˈɡɜːlɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or like a girl in looks, behaviour, innocence, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈgirlishly, adverb
• ˈgirlishness, noun

Other Words From

• girlish·ly adverb
• girlish·ness noun
• un·girlish adjective
• un·girlish·ly adverb
• un·girlish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of girlish¹

First recorded in 1555–65; girl + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Lane discovers a lost wallet in the back of a taxi; inside, is a photograph of a young woman with a girlish “XXOO” inscription.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time, however, she radiates an almost girlish vulnerability.

From The Daily Beast

Gone were any girlish slip-ups, gone were sequins and glitter eye shadow.

From The Daily Beast

Playful designer Erin Fetherston looks like a storybook heroine and designs girlish dresses for grown women.

From The Daily Beast

As the interview begins, her voice takes on a girlish pitch.

From The Daily Beast

He crushed them in his, then bent his head and kissed them; first the girlish right hand, then the left.

From Project Gutenberg

Tom, at the opposite end of the table, watched her girlish figure, her graceful gestures.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady May, although her girlish ways have not forsaken her, has no present thoughts of making any man happy.

From Project Gutenberg

As she made herself comfortable in his deepest chair she heard the girlish shallow voice launch out into a eulogy of the scenery.

From Project Gutenberg

She was a slim, girlish-looking woman, with a cascade of long dark hair falling over her shoulders.

From Project Gutenberg