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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | gurle, girle 'child, young person' (13-15 centuries), of unknown origin |
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girl S1 W1
[countable]
[countable]1 a female child [↪ boy]: Girls! Please be quiet. a teenage girl
child
Girls! Please be quiet.a teenage girl2 a daughter [↪ boy]: They have two girls and a boy. Time for bed, girls!
daughter
They have two girls and a boy.Time for bed, girls!3 a word meaning a woman, especially a young woman, which is considered offensive by some women : I'll invite some of the girls from the office. Steve's married to a lovely Dutch girl.
woman
I'll invite some of the girls from the office.Steve's married to a lovely Dutch girl.4 a group of women who are friends and often go out together : I'm going out with the girls tonight.
the girls
informalI'm going out with the girls tonight.5 used when speaking to a female animal, especially a dog, cat, or horse [↪ boy]: Bring me the stick. Good girl!
animal
Bring me the stick. Good girl!6 used by a woman when she is speaking to another woman she knows well : Hey, girl. What's up?
girl
American English spoken informalHey, girl. What's up?7 used to encourage a girl or woman, or to say that you agree with what she is saying
(you) go, girl!
American English spoken informal8 a word for a woman who you are having a romantic relationship with [= girlfriend]
girlfriend
old-fashioned9 used by an older person when speaking to a girl or woman who is younger than they are, or when they are annoyed : Listen to me, my girl!
my girl
old-fashionedListen to me, my girl!10 a young woman who works in a factory, shop, office etc
factory girl/shop girl/office girl
old-fashioned11 a woman servant
