gal
1 Americannoun
noun
abbreviation
abbreviation
abbreviation
abbreviation
noun
abbreviation
noun
Sensitive Note
See girl.
Etymology
Origin of gal1
First recorded in 1785–95; originally, a dialectal pronunciation of girl
Origin of gal2
First recorded in 1910–15; named after Galileo
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In September 2023 the NRA approved Chubu Electric's estimate of 1,200 gal, a unit of acceleration used to measure the intensity of quakes.
From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026
Testing showed that he had indeed been sensitized to alpha gal.
From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025
That style was even referenced in the film Something's Gotta Give, in which Keaton told Jack Nicholson's character that she's "just a turtleneck kinda gal".
From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025
The crime-fighting combo of a roguish guy and a no-nonsense gal is familiar from “Moonlighting” and “Castle.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025
“Polly, you just do what Lena, the head serving gal, tells you to do. Say nothing except for ‘yes, sir’ and ‘yes, ma’am.’
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.