# Jill

/ˈdʒɪɫ/ (US) · /dʒˈɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jill
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female ferret

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a female ferret.

For teachers: the specific term for a female ferret, as opposed to a hob (male).

- The breeder kept the jill in a separate cage from the males.
- A jill can remain in heat indefinitely if not bred, which may lead to life-threatening health complications for the ferret.

### 2. sports equipment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of protective equipment worn by women in sports like hockey.

For teachers: a pelvic protector designed for female athletes, serving as the counterpart to a male jockstrap.

- She made sure to pack her jill before heading to the ice rink.
- The equipment manager ordered new jills for the women's hockey team to ensure all players had adequate protection during the tournament.

### 3. a woman

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a general name for a woman, often used in old stories with the name Jack.

For teachers: a generic or archetypal name for a young woman, most commonly encountered in the paired phrase 'Jack and Jill'.

- The old nursery rhyme tells the story of Jack and Jill going up the hill.
- The proverb 'every Jack shall have his Jill' suggests that eventually everyone finds a romantic partner.

## Examples

- She spent the afternoon alone in her room to jill off.
- The character in the novel openly discusses her decision to jill off as a way to relieve stress before a big exam.
- While mainstream media often avoids the topic, certain indie films have begun to depict women choosing to jill off as a normal part of their daily routine.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.