Where does “bitch-ass” come from?

bitch-ass (English) comes from English ass, from Middle English asse, from Old English assa, from Old English assen, from Latin asinus, from Latin acinus, from Latin acies, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- — sharp.

bitch-ass (English): Contemptible; Weak, cowardly; unmanly; A...

Definitions

  1. Contemptible; Weak, cowardly; unmanly; A...

Ancestry of “bitch-ass”, step by step

bitch-ass traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ass

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishassAny of several species of horse-like animals,...
2Middle EnglishasseAlternative form of axen
3Old Englishassaass, donkey
4Old Englishassenshe-ass
5Latinasinusa donkey, an ass; an ass, an idiot, a dolt, a...
6Latinacinusa berry, especially the grape; the seed of a...
7Latinaciessharp edge or point; battle line; battle,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp

via English bitch

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 h₂eḱ-Every word from Latin aciesEvery word from Latin acinus