girl

American  

[gurl] / gɜrl /

noun

1. a female child, from birth to full growth.

2. a young, immature woman, especially formerly, an unmarried one.

3. a daughter.

   My wife and I have two girls.

4. Informal: Sometimes Offensive. a grown woman, especially when referred to familiarly.

   She's having the girls over for bridge next week.

5. a girlfriend; sweetheart.

6. Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female servant, as a maid.

7. Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female employee, especially an office assistant.

8. a female who is from or native to a given place.

   She's a Missouri girl.

9. (used with a singular or plural verb) girls,

   1. a range of sizes from 7 to 14, for garments made for girls.

   2. a garment in this size range.

   3. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.

10. Slang. girls, one's breasts (usually preceded by the, my, etc., and primarily used self-referentially by women).

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girl British  

/ ɡɜːl /

noun

1. a female child from birth to young womanhood

2. a young unmarried woman; lass; maid

3. informal a sweetheart or girlfriend

4. informal a woman of any age

5. an informal word for daughter

6. a female employee, esp a female servant

7. derogatory a Black female servant of any age

8. informal (usually plural) a group of women, esp acquaintances

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Sensitive Note

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.

Usage

Where does the word girl come from? The word girl, meaning "a female child," originally meant any "child" or "young person," regardless of gender. Girl, for "child," is recorded around 1250–1300.However, the original source of the word is uncertain. Scholars point to Old English words like gyrela, "an item of dress, apparel," presumably of a type worn by and popular with a young person back then.Guess what other word has obscure roots? Boy. Discover why in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."

Etymology

Origin of girl

First recorded in 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 the late Old English period, and hence used as a metonym)

Example Sentences

Alma is one of four girls of different generations whose stories, spread out over a century, unfold in and around a farmhouse in the northeastern part of the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

The eventual settlement was that public high schools in the state would either provide separate girls’ track teams or open existing track teams to women, if they chose to participate.

From The Wall Street Journal

One expert points out Taliban members have been happy to follow Akhundzada despite disagreeing with edicts like the ones on girls' education.

From BBC

An old-fashioned girl, she plays LPs on a Victrola and wears spectacles to read.

From Los Angeles Times

“To find out he was also sending other girls there, it is just really upsetting for me,” said Phillips.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• child
• kid
• little one
• young one
• youngster