What does lassie mean?
A lassie is a female dog, especially a young or small one. The word is commonly used by dog owners and breeders, although the more neutral term is “female dog.” In Scottish and northern English, lassie can also mean a girl or young woman, a sense that is mainly regional today. In general use, however, listeners usually interpret the word as referring to a dog. The word has a friendly, informal quality and is often associated with working or farm dogs. Its older use for a young woman survives chiefly in regional speech, literature, and expressions associated with northern life.
A female dog.
"The black lassie ran ahead of the hikers."
The more neutral expression “female dog” is often preferred in formal or technical contexts.
A girl or young woman.
"The story follows a lassie growing up in a northern village."
Chiefly Scottish and northern English; regional and somewhat old-fashioned in modern standard English.
The usual plural is lasses.
"Two lassies waited by the gate."
A lassie is literally a female dog, while in Scottish and northern English it can still mean a girl.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lassie come from?
Lassie is a diminutive of the older word lass, formed with the familiar suffix -ie. The word has been used in English since at least the late 16th century. Its original and regional use for a girl or young woman continued in Scots and northern English, while the sense “female dog” became widely established in modern usage.
Related word forms
How lassie is actually used
The female-dog sense is standard in modern British and American English. The sense meaning a girl is now mainly Scottish or northern English and may sound informal, old-fashioned, or regional to speakers of Standard American English.
Easily confused with lassie
A lass is a girl or young woman, whereas a lassie usually means a female dog, though it can also mean a girl in Scottish and northern English speech.