heifer

[Laurence Horn]

On Feb 14, 2012, at 12:36 PM, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:

> On 2/14/2012 10:58 AM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>>
>> An actual query: are _heifer_ and _filly_ the *only* terms that are glossed as 'a female X that has never given birth'?  Maybe there are parallel words for pre-parturitional sheep and pigs; as a true New Yorker, I wouldn't know.  It's odd that we don't seem to have such a word where X = human, especially since we do have words like "primipara".  (I remember my wife's reaction at age 38 when she was referred to at OB-GYN as an "elderly primipara".)
> --
>
> Likewise "nullipara" is used. But I suppose such a word is mostly used
> in medical jargon.
>
Ah, I was trying to think if such a word existed.  Still, as you say, it's limited in register--and much more negative-sounding than heifer or filly.

LH

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