girly

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girly¹

  • /ˈɡɝli/ US
  • /ˈɡɜːli/ Australia, UK
  • /ˈɡøːli/ New Zealand, Wales
  • /ˈɡɪɾle/ Scotland
  • /ɡeːli/
  • /ɡɛːli/

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)li

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-West Germanic *gaurā

Proto-West Germanic *-ilā

Proto-West Germanic *gurilā

Old English *gyrele?

Middle English girle

English girl

Proto-Indo-European *-kos

Proto-Germanic *-gaz

Proto-West Germanic *-g

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

English girly

From girl + -y (adjectival sufix).

adjective girlier · girliest

  1. Characteristic of a stereotypical girl, very effeminate, gentle; unmasculine. As a mom of two girls – including one who hopes Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos calls her to play on his team in this week’s Super Bowl – I can totally relate. I, along with so many other parents, am frustrated about the definitions of what’s girly and what’s not, and the separate products and
  2. slang Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad. a girly calendar
  3. slang Weak; wussy. There was enough food for a soccer team and we were going to grill it. Our meatfest included no girly utensils, no wussy plates. Just our hands, mouths, and incisors.

Similar: feminine, girlish, puellile, puelline, womanly, effeminate, unmanly

girly²

  • /ˈɡɝli/ US
  • /ˈɡɜːli/ Australia, UK
  • /ˈɡøːli/ New Zealand, Wales
  • /ˈɡɪɾle/ Scotland
  • /ɡeːli/
  • /ɡɛːli/

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)li

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-West Germanic *gaurā

Proto-West Germanic *-ilā

Proto-West Germanic *gurilā

Old English *gyrele?

Middle English girle

English girl

Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij-

Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

English girly

From girl + -y (diminutive suffix).

noun girlies

  1. childish, colloquial A girl. “Hey girly!” Chiles said. “What’s up!” / “Oh my gosh,” Raisman said. “How did you get in our hotel room?”

girly³

  • /ˈɡɝli/ US
  • /ˈɡɜːli/ Australia, UK
  • /ˈɡøːli/ New Zealand, Wales
  • /ˈɡɪɾle/ Scotland
  • /ɡeːli/
  • /ɡɛːli/

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)li

Where it comes from

From girl + -ly (adverbial suffix), after the adjective.

adverb

  1. rare In the manner of a girl. And its^([sic]) not just the blue nail polish. It’s the way his mind is attuned. He is incredibly in touch and in tune with females. Females surround him in his company. His partner in Jersey Films is Stacey Scherr.^([sic]) He can talk about boyfriends. He can talk girly.

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