I. ˈfē-ˌmāl adjective
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : of, relating to, or being the sex that bears young or produces eggs
(2) : pistillate
b.
(1) : composed of members of the female sex
the female population
(2) : characteristic of girls or women
composed for female voices
a female name
2. : having some quality (as gentleness) associated with the female sex
3. : designed with a hollow or groove into which a corresponding male part fits
the female coupling of a hose
• fe·male·ness noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, alteration of femel, femelle, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French femele, from Medieval Latin femella, from Latin, girl, diminutive of femina
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a female person : a woman or a girl
b. : an individual that bears young or produces large usually immobile gametes (as eggs) that are fertilized by small usually motile gametes of a male
2. : a pistillate plant