Definition of lass

The word "lass" is a Scottish English term that originally referred to a group of students who were enrolled in the same level of school or university. The term derived from the Middle English word "lassen," which meant "to let fall" or "to cease" and referred to the way a teacher would say "Let fall your loads" to dismiss the students at the end of a class. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to refer not just to a group of students but also to one's social rank or class. In British culture, the term "working-class" or "middle-class" came to be used to describe individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. In Scottish English, the term "lass" continues to be used in its traditional sense to refer to a group of students or pupils. However, in everyday language, it is also used as an informal term of address for people, particularly women, in a friendly or affectionate way, similar to the use of "girl" or "wench" in other dialects of English. In summary, the origin of the word "lass" can be traced back to the Middle English "lassen," which evolved to refer to students, and then to describe social rank or class. Its continuing use in Scottish English reflects the distinct cultural heritage of that region.