English

Pronunciation
IPA|/læs/
:rhymes|æs

Etymology
From ME. term|lasse|langenm < ON. *term|lasqa||an unmarried woman|langnon. Cognate with Scots term|lassie|lang=sco.

Noun
en-noun|lasses

1. context|archaic|informal A young woman or girl.

#: "Come and dance, ye lads and lasses!"

1. Geordie A sweetheart.

Translations
trans-top|a young woman or girl
Breton: merc'h, plac'h
Finnish: tyttö
French: demoiselle, fille, jeune fille i|child, fillette i|child, jeune femme
German: Mädchen n i|child, Jungfrau f
Irish: cailín m, maighdean f
trans-mid
Scottish Gaelic: caileag i|child, nighean, nighneag i|child, gruagach , rìbhinn
Spanish: chica, chiquita, niña i|child, muchacha, señorita
Welsh: geneth i|child, merch, rhiain
trans-bottom

trans-top|a sweetheart
See sweetheart
trans-bottom

Usage notes
Still prevalent in Northern English dialects such as Geordie and Northumbrian.

Related terms
buffer lass
lad
lassie

References
R:Northeast Dialect 2005
R:1913
R:Online Etymology Dictionary
R:Dobson & Irwin Newcastle 1970
R:New Geordie Dictionary 1987
R:Palgrave

fr:lass
io:lass
it:lass
ru:lass
fi:lass
te:lass
vi:lass
zh:lass

• 2007-10-22 17:31 - Williamsayers79 - format updated - use newer templates where appropriate

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