Just to expand a little further, when I lived in the North East(and I return quite frequently, as recently as last Wedneday in fact)the term "hinny" which is still very much part of the vocabulary is a term of endearment which can be applied to both sexes. "Keep Your Feet Still Geordie, Hinny" I found a similar situation when I moved to my now home in Nottingham where both men and women are addressed as "duck"