Etymology Map
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Girl

2 stages from Middle English to English.

Today it means a female child or young woman

Where does the word "girl" come from? It comes from Middle English gurle, adopted directly into English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
gurle
Middle English · 1300s
"child"
meant a child of either sex; a boy could be called a 'knave gerle'; its origin is unknown, perhaps related to Low German 'göre', child
2
Stage 2 of 2
girl
English · 1500s
"female child"
narrowed to mean a female child by the 1500s
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Girl’s story begins in Middle English: gurle meant “child.” Meant a child of either sex; a boy could be called a 'knave gerle'; its origin is unknown, perhaps related to Low German 'göre', child. It reached English by 1500s as girl. Narrowed to mean a female child by the 1500s. Today, girl means a female child or young woman.