Anglo-Irish. [Ir. cailín girl, dim. of caile country-woman: cf. squireen, buckeen. (Cailín bán, anglicized colleen bawn = white or fair girl.)] A girl.

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1829.  G. Griffin, Collegians, II. xxiii. 168.

        I’m not Aurora, nor the goddess Flora,
  But a rural female to all men’s view,
Who’s here condoling my situation,
  And my appellation is the Colleen rue.

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1830.  W. Carleton, Traits & Stories, Shane Fadh’s Wedding. Your young colleen bawn, that ’ill be your wife before the sun sets.

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1837.  S. Lover, Rory O’More, xliv. Stay here, my poor colleen.

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1864.  R. A. Arnold, Cotton Famine, 400. Cheered on by their ‘colleens,’ the Irish boys of Staleybridge damaged the houses.

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