Where does “bastard” come from?

bastard (Middle French) comes from Old French bastard, from Medieval Latin bastardus, from Proto-Germanic banstuz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ- — to bind; bond.

bastard (Middle French): bastard child born outside of wedlock

Definitions

  1. bastard child born outside of wedlock

Ancestry of “bastard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchbastardbastard person conceived to unmarried parents
2Medieval Latinbastardusillegitimate child
3Proto-Germanicbanstuzbond, tie
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰendʰ-to bind; bond
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic banstuz →Every word from Medieval Latin bastardus →