coed (n.)

student. In theory, a coed is a student at a coeducational school; in practice, it is always a young woman. Several generations ago, Joe College and Betty Coed were the popular generic couple on campus, but Joe got to be the whole college while Betty was the coed, the exception to the rule. "'Coed carries with it the connotation of perky little female students in tight sweaters, or of women who have only recently been allowed to study with their more deserving male counterparts. Only men are students; women are just co-educated'" (The Wall Street Journal ). Commented the paper: "'Tis truly sad to let go of such a headline-short word in newspapers, but let us put it on our list of sexist words to be avoided." See also feisty, perky/pert.