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bitch

(bĭch)

1. A female canine animal, especially a dog.

2. Offensive A woman considered to be mean, overbearing, or contemptible.

3. Vulgar Slang

a. A prostitute considered in relation to a pimp.

b. A person in a subservient sexual role, especially an incarcerated male who provides sex to another male under threat of violence or in exchange for protection.

c. A person who is submissive to another, usually by performing menial or unpleasant tasks.

d. A man considered to be weak or contemptible.

4. Slang A complaint.

5. Slang Something very unpleasant or difficult: Fixing the faucet turned out to be a bitch.

v. bitched, bitch·ing, bitch·es
Slang

v.intr.

To complain; grumble.

v.tr.

To botch; bungle. Often used with up.

Phrasal Verb:

bitch out Slang

To reprimand loudly or harshly.

[Middle English bicche, from Old English bicce.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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