Where does “girl” come from?
Girl comes from Middle English gerle, which derives from Old English gyrele, of unknown origin.
girl (English): A female child, adolescent, or a young woman; A...
Definitions
- A female child, adolescent, or a young woman; A...
Ancestry of “girl”, step by step
girl traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English gerle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gerle | child, kid |
| 2 | Old English | gyrele | young person |
via Middle English gyrle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gyrle | Alternative form of gerle; young person of any... |
via Middle English girle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | girle | Alternative form of gerle |