B-girl

noun

ˈbē-ˌgər(-ə)l 

variants or b-girl

plural B-girls or b-girls

1

: a girl or woman who adopts the pursuits or styles of hip-hop culture

Last fall ushered in the simultaneous debuts of SWV and Jade—two talented trios … both spinning romantic tales and sporting hip-hop gear. Within months, these budding B-girls blossomed … into role models with millions of fans and even look-alikes.

—Deborah Gregory

often : a girl or woman who is a breakdancer

B-boys and B-girls were influenced by everything from Brazilian capoeira and gymnastics to James Brown and martial arts, and their imaginative moves continue to leave observers in awe.

—An Rong Xu et al.

2

: a woman who entertains bar patrons and encourages them to spend freely

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) B (in B-boy) + girl; (sense 2) probably from b(ar) entry 1 + girl

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 2