grisette

Definition

A (chiefly French) girl or young married woman of the lower class; especially, a young working-class woman of perceived easy morals.

Etymology

Borrowed from French grisette, from gris (“grey”) + -ette, named after the color of the fabric associated with low value or bad quality.

Example Sentences

• "‘What a fuss is here, indeed, about a little grisette: why, one would think Beresford had carried off an heiress.’"
• "The anticipations of the shopkeeper were realized, and his rooms soon became notorious through the charms of the sprightly grisette."
• "[…]Paris from afar sounded its fanfare of masked balls with the laugh of grisettes."