Colleen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A young female from Ireland or of Irish descent
2. A young woman or girl, particularly one associated with Irish culture or heritage, representing traits traditionally linked to Ireland
3. A young girl or woman, especially one with Irish roots or cultural ties, often embodying characteristics typical of Irish identity

Etymology: The English "colleen" is a plain borrowing from Irish "cailín", which means "girl" in that language. The Irish word is a diminutive-type noun in its own right, and it kept its ordinary sense of a young female for centuries before English speakers picked it up as a label for Irish girls and women. In English the word carried a sentimental, stage-Irish flavour for much of its life, so that a colleen became a familiar figure in songs, plays and sketches about Ireland. That association is why the term still feels affectionate and a little nostalgic today, even though the Irish original is a simple, everyday word for a girl.

Synonyms: girl, lass

Antonyms: boy