female

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁(y)-
2. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-éh₂
3. Proto-Italic*θēmanā
4. Proto-Italic*fēmanā
5. Latinfēmina
6. Latinfēmella
7. Old Frenchfemele
8. Middle Englishfemele
9. Middle Englishfemale
10. English todayfemale

From Middle English female, an alteration of Middle English femele, from Old French femele, femelle (“female”), from Medieval Latin fēmella (“a female”), from Latin fēmella (“a girl, a young female, a young woman”), diminutive of fēmina (“a woman”). The English spelling and pronunciation were remodelled under the influence of male, which is otherwise not etymologically related. Contrast woman, which is etymologically built on man (as in, “person”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. Belonging to the sex which typically produces eggs (ova), or to the gender which is typically associated with it.
• from 16th c. Having an internal socket, as in a connector or pipe fitting.