Where does “bitch” come from?

bitch (Dutch) comes from English bitch, from Middle English bicche, from Old English biċċe, from Proto-Germanic bikjǭ, from Proto-Germanic bikjaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeg- — to break.

bitch (Dutch): bitch somewhat general term of abuse for a woman; disagreeable, assertive, aggressive or malicious woman

Definitions

  1. bitch somewhat general term of abuse for a woman; disagreeable, assertive, aggressive or malicious woman

Ancestry of “bitch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbitchA female dog or other canine, "particularly" a...
2Middle EnglishbiccheAlternative form of biche
3Old Englishbiċċefemale dog
4Proto-Germanicbikjǭfemale dog, bitch
5Proto-Germanicbikjanąto attack, stab, hack, thrust
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeg-to break
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bikjaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic bikjǭ →