girl

[[t]gɜrl[/t]]

n.

1) a female child, from birth to full growth

2) sex a young, immature woman, esp., formerly, an unmarried one

3) a daughter:

My wife and I have two girls[/ex]

4) off sex Usu. Offensive. a grown woman

5) sex girlfriend; sweetheart

6) sex usu. off.

a) a female servant

b) a female employee

7) cvb sex a female who is from or native to a given place:

She's a Missouri girl[/ex]

8) clo girls, (used with a sing. or pl. v.)

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

b) a garment in this size range

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Etymology: 1250–1300; ME gurle, girle, gerle child, young person; cf. OE gyrela, gi(e) rela, item of dress, apparel (presumably worn by the young in late OE period, and hence used as a metonym) usage: Many women today resent being called girls or the less formal gals. In business and professional offices, the girl or my girl in reference to one's secretary has decreased but not disappeared. Such terms as the girls for a group of women, girl or gal Friday for a female assistant, and bachelor girl for an unmarried woman are frequently regarded as offensive. working girl in the sense “a woman who works,” as well as girl in reference to one's maid or housekeeper, are increasingly considered offensive and are declining in use. See also lady, woman