filly
Americannoun
plural
fillies-
a young female horse.
-
Informal. a girl or young woman.
noun
-
a female horse or pony under the age of four
-
informal a spirited girl or young woman
Etymology
Origin of filly
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English fyly, from Old Norse fyla “female, foal”; foal
Explanation
A filly is a young female horse. The male equivalent of a filly is a "colt." In most places, a filly is not yet four years old, although sometimes a female horse younger than five is considered a filly. Before she is a year old, a filly is also called a "foal," or a baby horse — and between the ages of one and two, she's also a "yearling." Around 1400, the word was spelled fyly, possibly from the Old Norse fylja, the feminine of foli, or "foal."
Vocabulary lists containing filly
Horsin' Around
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The Book of Unknown Americans
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Black Beauty
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
True to form, we’ve got a filly that’s qualified for the Kentucky Oaks with Fondly, who won the Virginia Oaks, and we’re going to run in the Kentucky Oaks.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025
Other notable successes included the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with the brilliant unbeaten filly Zarkava.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025
She is a lock to win the Eclipse Award for best 3-year-old filly and certainly has the résumé to win horse of the year.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2024
Rather than trying to replicate his Derby trip, Hernandez may copy a little of what Robby Albarado, now Mystik Dan’s exercise rider, did for McPeek in winning the 2020 Preakness with filly Swiss Skydiver.
From Seattle Times • May 16, 2024
The slightest pressure with her legs, the lightest touch on the reins, and the filly responded.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
