rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryfillyYoung female horse
noun

filly

FIL-ee/ˈfɪli/

A young female horse.

The filly stays close to her mother in the pasture.

A young female horse grazes beside an older mare.
Etymology
fillyMiddle Englishyoung female horse

Middle English filli already meant a young female horse. It may come from Old Norse fylja, the feminine counterpart of a word meaning foal.

In context

Thoroughbreds Declassified60:07
she is one of the mares that we would classify as we're very soon going to be looking at trying to keep a filly from her so that we can keep this female family
Thoroughbreds Declassified: Unlocking the Secrets of Broodmare Selection

More examples

  • Their mare gave birth to a healthy filly.
  • Two fillies trot along the fence together.
  • The trainer gently introduces the filly to a saddle.

Forms

filly · fillies

Similar words

foal
A young horse of either sex, unlike a filly.
mare
A female horse, usually an adult rather than a youngster.