girl
UK[ɡɜːl]US[ɡɜːrl]
n
A female child or young woman.
n
A daughter.
n
A woman, especially a young woman.
Etymology
The origin of the word 'girl' is somewhat obscure. It first appeared in Middle English as 'gurle' or 'girle', used to refer to a young person of either sex. Its ultimate roots are uncertain, though some theories suggest a possible connection to Old English or Low German words for a young person or child. Over time, its meaning narrowed specifically to refer to a female child. The evolution from a gender-neutral term for a youth to its modern, exclusively feminine meaning illustrates a common semantic shift where a general term becomes specialized.
Analysis
The word 'girl' is a simplex word of uncertain origin. It does not have separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The little girl was playing in the park.
They have a teenage girl and a young boy.
She's a smart girl with a bright future.