Moll (slang)
Encyclopedia
Moll is Australian
and New Zealand
slang
, usually pejorative or self-deprecating
, for a woman of loose sexual morals, a bitch, a slut
or a prostitute. The term can also be used for a girlfriend of a thief, gangster
, surfie or bikie
.
, which was used to describe the girlfriend of a gangster or thief, often but not necessarily a prostitute. As Australian pronunciation merges the phonemes /ɒ/ ([ɔ]) and /oʊ/ ([əʉ]) before /l/ (they both become [oʊl.
was a 1981 movie based on the autobiographical novel by Kathy Lette
and Gabrielle Carey
about their experiences of being 13-year-old girls on Sydney’s southern beaches
. In both the novel and movie, girls were referred to as molls, bush pigs, top chicks or glam mags.
"Game on, molls!" became a popular catchcry in 2006, after scheming contestant Anna used it on Australian reality television show Big Brother. It spawned a range of novelty products such as T-shirts.
"Game on, moll!" was also used by Jordan Loukas
, another reality television show contestant on Australia's Next Top Model
in 2007 and subsequently became an advertising slogan for the show.
Contestants on reality television show Aussie Ladette to Lady
have often been described as molls.
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
and New Zealand
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
, usually pejorative or self-deprecating
Self-deprecation
Self-deprecation, or Self-depreciation, is the act of belittling or undervaluing oneself. It can be used in humor and tension release.-In comedy:...
, for a woman of loose sexual morals, a bitch, a slut
Slut
Slut or slattern is a pejorative term applied to an individual who is considered to have loose sexual morals or who is sexually promiscuous...
or a prostitute. The term can also be used for a girlfriend of a thief, gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
, surfie or bikie
Motorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. A variety of subcultures and lifestyles have been built up around motorcycling.-Benefits:Robert M. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was a paean celebrating motorcycling...
.
Pronunciation and spelling
The origins of moll is gun mollGun moll
Gun moll is a term that refers to the female companion of a male professional criminal. In some contexts, gun moll more specifically suggests that the woman handles a firearm....
, which was used to describe the girlfriend of a gangster or thief, often but not necessarily a prostitute. As Australian pronunciation merges the phonemes /ɒ/ ([ɔ]) and /oʊ/ ([əʉ]) before /l/ (they both become [oʊl.
Use in popular culture
Puberty BluesPuberty Blues
Puberty Blues is a 1981 Australian film directed by Bruce Beresford. The film is based on the 1979 novel Puberty Blues, by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, which is a proto-feminist teen novel about two 13 year-old girls from the Sutherland Shire in Sydney, Australia...
was a 1981 movie based on the autobiographical novel by Kathy Lette
Kathy Lette
Kathy Lette is an Australian author who has written a number of bestselling books.Born in Sydney's southern suburbs, she first attracted attention in 1979 as the coauthor of Puberty Blues, a strongly autobiographical, proto-feminist teen novel about two 13-year-old southern suburbs girls...
and Gabrielle Carey
Gabrielle Carey
Gabrielle Carey is an Australian writer noted for the teen novel Puberty Blues which she co-wrote with Kathy Lette. This novel was the first teenage novel published in Australia that was actually written by teenagers.-Life:...
about their experiences of being 13-year-old girls on Sydney’s southern beaches
Southern Sydney
This article refers to an area the same as a combination of St George and SutherlandSouthern Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the southern metropolitan area of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
. In both the novel and movie, girls were referred to as molls, bush pigs, top chicks or glam mags.
"Game on, molls!" became a popular catchcry in 2006, after scheming contestant Anna used it on Australian reality television show Big Brother. It spawned a range of novelty products such as T-shirts.
"Game on, moll!" was also used by Jordan Loukas
Jordan Loukas
Jordan Loukas is an Australian model, who was the second runner up in the third cycle of Australia's Next Top Model...
, another reality television show contestant on Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model
Australia's Next Top Model is an Australian reality television series, based on a franchise that was created by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model...
in 2007 and subsequently became an advertising slogan for the show.
Contestants on reality television show Aussie Ladette to Lady
Aussie Ladette to Lady
Aussie Ladette To Lady is an Australian reality based television series, based on the format of the successful British series Ladette to Lady. The premise of the series sees eight Australian women sent to Eggleston Hall Finishing School in England , where the staff will attempt to transform them...
have often been described as molls.