/bɪtʃ/
Translation
A strong insult aimed at women far more often than at men, so it lands as an attack on a woman rather than as ordinary rudeness. It also means a female dog, but almost nobody hears that sense first. Recognise it, do not use it.
Word origin
From Old English bicce, a female dog. People have used it as an insult for a woman since the 1400s, and that use has long since buried the original one.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- bicce
Examples
.
Aimed at a woman, it is heard as an attack on her, not as ordinary bad language.
most , .
It carries far more weight than words like "rude" or "unkind".
, "" .
The old neutral sense survives among dog breeders and vets, and almost nowhere else.
Used in
Stories
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