bitch
/bɪtʃ/
noun
Origin
Old English
bicce — female dog
Overview
Meaning Now
- A female dog or other canine animal.
- A derogatory term for a woman, typically one perceived as unpleasant, malicious, or domineering.
- A complaint or grievance.
Literal older meaning
Female canine
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
bicce
Earliest period
c. 1000
Journey
The word originally served as a neutral zoological term. Its shift to a pejorative term for women began appearing in the late Middle English period, reflecting historical gender power dynamics. By the 15th century, the term was established as a common insult.
Evolution
- Old English
bicce
“female dog”
- Middle English
bicche
“female dog; used figuratively to denote a woman of loose morals”
Appearance of pejorative figurative usage
- Modern English
bitch
“female canine; offensive slur; expression of complaint”
Connections
Word parts
bitch
root
female dog
Related across languages
Old Norse
bikkja
female dog
Middle Low German
bikse
female dog
Explore next
Related to bitch
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.