hoyden

or hoi·den

[hoid-n]

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noun

a boisterous, bold, and carefree girl; a tomboy.

adjective

boisterous; rude.

Origin of hoyden

1585–95; perhaps < Middle Dutch heyden boor, heathen

Related formshoy·den·ish, adjectivehoy·den·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for hoyden

romp, meg, gamine, spitfire, hoiden

Examples from the Web for hoyden

Historical Examples of hoyden

And this hoyden had talked as though she took an interest in Austen!
Mr. Crewe's Career, Complete
Winston Churchill
I hope I will not be too noisy, nor too much of a hoyden for you—for you are not well I am sure.
The Days of My Life
Mrs. Oliphant
She ascribed her hoyden behavior to the influence of the stage.
Carnival
Compton Mackenzie
The hoyden took him up in a moment, and added of her own devilry a trumpet and banner.
A Book of Scoundrels
Charles Whibley
Mrs. Jordan superlative in Hoyden, and Jones well enough in Foppington.
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. III
Thomas Moore

British Dictionary definitions for hoyden

hoyden

hoiden

noun

a wild boisterous girl; tomboy

Derived Formshoydenish or hoidenish, adjectivehoydenishness or hoidenishness, noun

Word Origin for hoyden

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch heidijn heathen

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

Word Origin and History for hoyden

1590s, of unknown origin; perhaps from Dutch heiden "rustic, uncivilized man," from Middle Dutch heiden "heathen" (see heathen). Originally in English "rude, boorish fellow;" sense of "ill-bred, boisterous female" first recorded 1670s.