filly
Americannoun
-
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”; see 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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Book of Unknown Americans
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Black Beauty
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Eclipse also has Fondly running in the Kentucky Oaks, the filly version of the Derby, for Motion.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025
Saturday was also the last big qualifying day for the Kentucky Oaks, the 3-year-old filly version of the Kentucky Derby.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2025
Other notable successes included the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with the brilliant unbeaten filly Zarkava.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025
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
He had the bad luck of drawing into an event that featured the best filly in the country, Myrdewood.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
