filly

[ fil-ee ]

/ ˈfɪl i /

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noun, plural fil·lies.

a young female horse.

Informal. a girl or young woman.

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Origin of filly

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English fyly, from Old Norse fyla “female, foal”; see foal

Words nearby filly

Fillmore, fill out, fill someone's shoes, fill the bill, fill-up, filly, film, filmable, film badge, filmcard, film clip

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use filly in a sentence

A few hours later, a Forest Service official would shoot the filly to end her suffering.
Someone Is Killing Wild Horses in Arizona. One Woman Is Determined to Find Out Who|Marisa Agha / Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Ariz.|March 25, 2022|Time
As Nixon approached, the filly took off, racing past the dead bodies of Raven and her mother.
Someone Is Killing Wild Horses in Arizona. One Woman Is Determined to Find Out Who|Marisa Agha / Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Ariz.|March 25, 2022|Time
But on May 30, Jackson announced he would not enter his filly, claiming she “deserves a well-earned vacation.”
Can These Two Horses Save Racing?|Sally Denton|June 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Hen scarts and filly tails, make lofty ships wear lowly sails.
The Proverbs of Scotland|Alexander Hislop

When the bay filly threw me last winter and broke my arm I thought I was part bone.
Around Old Bethany|Robert Lee Berry
She forced aside the all-too-affectionate, bay filly who crowded upon her, shot back the bar of the gate and relocked it.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady|Lucas Malet
I sold my Rosemary filly to-day on the course to Bentman the bookie, and he paid me in notes.
Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays)|John Galsworthy
The fellow's mad over losing the price of that filly now she's won the Cambridgeshire.
Loyalties (Fifth Series Plays)|John Galsworthy

British Dictionary definitions for filly

filly

/ (ˈfɪlɪ) /

noun plural -lies

a female horse or pony under the age of four

informal, rare a spirited girl or young woman

Word Origin for filly

C15: from Old Norse fylja; related to Old High German fulihha; see foal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

filly

Origin of filly

Words nearby filly

Words related to filly

How to use filly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for filly

Word Origin for filly