lass
Americannoun
-
a girl or young woman, especially one who is unmarried.
-
a female sweetheart.
a young lad and his lass.
noun
-
a girl or young woman
-
informal a familiar form of address for any female
Etymology
Origin of lass
1250–1300; Middle English las, lasse, of uncertain origin
Explanation
A lass is a girl. Your Scottish folk dance teacher might announce, "Lads line up on that side, lasses on this side!" Lass is an old-fashioned way to say "young girl," and it's more common in parts of Britain than in the US. You're most likely to hear this word in Scotland and the north of England, although lass is most likely rooted in Scandinavian languages, like the Old Swedish løsk kona, "unmarried woman," or the Old Norse löskr, "idle or weak."
Vocabulary lists containing lass
As You Like It
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!
One for the Murphys
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!
Mirror, Mirror
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.
She added she was grateful to Conservative Party members who gave "a young, working class lass from Sheffield the opportunity to serve as an MP".
From BBC • Nov. 25, 2022
Alma was a tall lass, and a stalwart lass, and calm.
From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2022
But she recently told Fox News Channel’s “MediaBuzz,” “I’m an Irish lass in my heart.”
From Seattle Times • May 11, 2022
Pounding a flamboyantly mediocre show with King Kong's ferocity and enthusiasm of Gorilla Grodd is easy to do, and it would be a dishonest lass to claim it isn't fun.
From Salon • May 7, 2021
“Didn’t mean to shriek like a banshee! I was startled, is all. It was so lifelike! She’s a talented lass, isn’t she?”
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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.
