noun
sheila
SHEE-luh
noun
1
Australian and New Zealand slang for a woman.
"He turned up to the barbecue with a new sheila on his arm."
name
1
A female given name of Irish origin.
"Sheila has lived in the same village her whole life."
How to Use Sheila
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn everyday Australian slang, just means "woman"; also a traditional Irish first name.
When to use it
The slang use is very informal and dated; some now find it a bit old-fashioned or mildly disrespectful.
Word Forms
sheilas plural
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He turned up to the barbecue with a new _____ on his arm.
Etymology
The slang sense comes from the popularity of "Sheila" as a common Irish immigrant name in 19th-century Australia.