Definition

1. Noun:
   • A girl or young woman who behaves in a boisterous, tomboyish, or high-spirited manner, often considered unfeminine by conventional standards.

Usage

• The word "hoyden" is a somewhat dated or literary term. It is used to describe a girl whose behavior is perceived as rough, noisy, or boyish, often with a connotation of being spirited and lacking the demureness traditionally expected of girls. It can be used neutrally, affectionately, or critically, depending on context.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Victorian novel featured a charming hoyden who preferred climbing trees to practicing the piano.
  • Her parents despaired of their daughter, a true hoyden who was always covered in mud from the garden.

Advanced Usage

• "Hoydenish" (adjective): Describing behavior or characteristics typical of a hoyden.
  • She had a hoydenish laugh that could be heard across the entire courtyard.

Variants and Related Words

• Hoiden: An alternative, less common spelling of "hoyden."
• Tomboy: A more common and contemporary synonym, generally with a more neutral or positive connotation.

Synonyms

• Tomboy
• Romp (archaic)
• Gamine (suggests a slim, elfin, or mischievous girl, not necessarily boisterous)

Antonyms

• Debutante
• Lady
• Damsel (archaic, implying delicacy)

Noun

1. a girl who behaves in a boyish manner