noun
Gillian
JIH-lee-uhn
noun
1
(dated, informal) A girl or young woman, especially one seen as flirtatious or promiscuous.
"Old slang used "gillian" the way later generations might use "wild girl.""
2
(dated, informal) A prostitute.
"The word appears in older slang dictionaries with this now-obsolete sense."
How to Use Gillian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned slang word for a girl or, in an even older sense, a prostitute — rarely used today outside historical or dialect contexts.
When to use it
Archaic and dialectal; you will not hear this used in modern speech.
Word Forms
gillians plural
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Old slang used "_____" the way later generations might use "wild girl."
Etymology
Derived from the given name Gillian, a medieval variant of Julian/Juliana that became a generic term for a woman in old slang, much like "Jack" became generic for a man.