bitch
UK[bɪtʃ]US[bɪtʃ]
n
a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter.
n
a malicious, unpleasant, or difficult woman (vulgar, offensive).
v
to make spitefully critical comments (vulgar, offensive).
Etymology
the word "bitch" originates from old english "bicce," meaning a female dog. its ultimate etymology is uncertain but is likely derived from the proto-germanic "bikkjōn-," also signifying a female dog. the term's application as a vulgar and offensive insult for a woman, attested from around the 15th century, represents a semantic shift where the animal term is used pejoratively to dehumanize. this pejorative sense later gave rise to the verb meaning "to complain spitefully," solidifying its place in modern English as a potent and often offensive term.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old english, with a probable proto-germanic origin.
Examples
the champion greyhound is a bitch named swift.
he warned his friend not to bitch about the minor inconveniences.
the documentary studied the behavior of a wolf bitch and her pups.