colleen
/kɒˈliːn
/ /ˈkɒliːn /noun Irish
A girl or young woman.It is ironic that what O'Casey was satirising in some of his later plays, the dancing colleens at the crossroads blessed by big bellied bishops, is what, in effect, is celebrated in that father of all cash cows Riverdance....
- Sally McCullough and Marie Murphy nudged the Slaney in front, but two games later the Collins' colleens were back on level terms, Brenda Deegan and Jackie McMullan producing the winning arrows.
- A tireless worker all her life, she is a brave colleen and she shows what a woman can do when she puts her mind to it.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Irish cailin, diminutive of caile 'countrywoman'.