Where does “bitch” come from?
Bitch comes from Middle English bicche, from Old English biċċe, from Proto-Germanic bikjǭ and bikjaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeg-, of unknown original meaning.
bitch (English): A female dog or other canine, "particularly" a...
Definitions
- A female dog or other canine, "particularly" a...
Ancestry of “bitch”, step by step
bitch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English bicche
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bicche | Alternative form of biche |
| 2 | Old English | biċċe | female dog |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | bikjǭ | female dog, bitch |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bikjaną | to attack, stab, hack, thrust |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeg- | to break |
via Middle English biche
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | biche | bitch |