lassie
noun/ˈlæsi/
Etymology From lass + -ie.
1
Geordie, Northern England, Northumbria, Scotland A young girl, a lass, especially one seen as a sweetheart.
- I had been on a message for my father, and was walking home along the road, when I saw a tall, fine lassie coming over the bogland on the right hand side of the road.1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 27:
- It was the day of warlocks and apparitions, now happily driven out by the zeal of the General Assembly. Witches pursued their wanchancy calling, bairns were spirited away, young lassies selled their souls to the Evil One, and the Accuser of the Brethren, in the shape of a black tyke, was seen about cottage doors in the gloaming.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
2 more examples
- She was caught in this git-a-man, git-a-bairn, git-a-hoose shite that lassies git drummed intae them, and hud nae real chance ay defining hersel ootside ay they mashed-tattie-fir-brains terms ay reference.1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, “Bang to Rites”, in Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 220:
- Green grow the rushes, oh Green grow the rushes, oh The sweetest hours that e'er I spent Are spent among the lassies, oh2012, “Green Grow the Rushes”, performed by Celtic Woman:
- Derived terms
- lassiehood
- Related terms
- lad