English

Etymology

Noun

bitch (plural bitches )

1. A female dog. Often extended to other species' females.
2. (vulgar, derogatory): A malicious, spiteful, domineering , intrusive , and/or mean woman.
3. (vulgar, derogatory; less commonly): A spiteful gay man, or a spiteful man (implying womanly behavior.)

   You called me a bitch, didn't you? — Glenn Close in the movie The Jagged Edge .

4. (jokingly) A friend. (Especially between women, between gay men, and also between woman and gay men)

   Whatsup my bitch, or How my bitches been doin'?"

In predomanantly gay communities the noun bitch is sometimes diffused by intentional overuse/misuse. In print, and outside those circles, the noun (referring to a person) is always demeaning, with the added implication that the person being insulted is subservient, i.e. the male partner who always plays the female role in a gay couple.

Translations

dog

spiteful woman

spiteful man

Verb

bitch (bitched , bitching )

1. To complain (about something), usually for the sake of complaining rather than in order to have the problem corrected.

   All you ever do is bitch about the food I cook for you!

Synonyms

• gripe
• kvetch
• moan
• piss and moan
• whine
• whinge

Translations

complain

Derived terms

• bitching
• bitchy
• son of a bitch, sonofabitch

External links

• The Etymology of the Word Bitch