Bitch (slang)

For other uses, see the insult.

Bitch is a term for the female of a canine species in general. It is also frequently used as an offensive term for a woman, taken to mean that she is malicious, spiteful, domineering, intrusive, or unpleasant. This second meaning has been in use since around 1400. When used to describe a male, it confers the meaning of "subordinate", especially to another male, as in prison. More recent variants of bitch are bitchy, ill-tempered (1925), and to bitch, to complain (1930).

Sometime during the late 1990s or early 2000s, the term "bitch" became more and more accepted and less offensive, and is now very rarely censored on television broadcasts or otherwise. Prior to the term's general acceptance, euphemism terms were often substituted, such as "gun" in the phrase "son of a gun". More generally the term has also acquired the meaning of something unpleasant or irksome, as in the expression "Life's a Bitch".

Uses

Women

The word "bitch" has long been in use to refer to a woman in contempt, as shown in an 1811 dictionary which describes bitch as "the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of whore."

The word bitch is sometimes used casually among hip-hop artists and followers of the culture. The term is typically used to describe a young female regardless of personality or looks. Often it is a directly negative and violent condemnation of character (referring sometimes to males as well, but especially directed at females). When used, it is sometimes meant in a more ambiguous sense, though usually it denotes ownership, therefore reinforcing cultural norms of the word as negative, especially towards the feminine. This is similar to previous feminist attempts to identify it as an epithet for a strong, self-reliant woman. However it should be noted that the term was used during slavery in the Americas as a term for a female slave.

Men

In addition to prison slang, the term "bitch" has a modern usage when applied to men, particularly by certain feminist groups. A male bitch is seen as "womanish," weak, whiny and submissive. Another familiar American usage is to call someone a son of a bitch, a vulgarity or insult, which can also refer to one being a bastard.

Slang

In the context of prison sexuality, a bitch is a lower-hierarchy prisoner, typically physically weak or vulnerable, who is dominated by more senior prisoners and forced to adopt a servile role. According to convention, these inmates are used as sexual slaves or traded as personal property. To call a male a "bitch" usually suggests that he is sexually passive in this manner.

Bitch slap

The term "bitch slap" is derived from American slang. In the original sense, a "bitch slap" is a powerful, full-swing slap in the face with the front of the hand, evoking the way an angry pimp might slap a defiant prostitute (not to be confused with a "pimp slap" which uses the back of the hand). However, the term is now frequently used figuratively to describe a humiliating defeat or punishment.

The term biatch or beotch is a slang word for bitch. The term has become widely used in mainstream media to avoid censorship. It was also well defined in the once popular tune "Let Me Ride" by music performer Dr. Dre.

Profanity

The term son of a bitch is a form of profanity usually used to refer to a man who is nasty, rude or otherwise offensive. It also is used as an exclamation or in an exclamative pretext. It is considered a swear or curse. It is commonly abbreviated as SOB.

Slang and driving

The word bitch as in the phrase riding bitch can refer to the middle bench seat in which one is sandwiched between the driver and another passenger—an uncomfortable position when space in the car is scarce, especially where the drive tunnel limits legroom. Riding bitch or the bitch seat can also refer to the middle rear seat in a small five-seater hatchback or sedan (often the only seat without a shoulder-strap).

The origins of the phrase "riding bitch" could be interpreted as being sexist. In the past, as well as currently in some parts of the world, men have been the drivers and women have sat next to them, with the child or passenger in the seat furthest from the driver. "Riding bitch" also refers to riding on the small seat behind the driver of a motorcycle.

The term flip a bitch is used primarily in America where it means to make a u-turn (legal or illegal). In parts of California, the term u-turn has gone out of use.

Variants

The adjectives bitchy and bitchin' and the verb to bitch evolved from the noun bitch. All of these derivative forms tend to be less offensive than the noun form, although it is clear that most derivations of the term originate from the insulting meaning of "bitch."

From this usage of bitch as "complain", the colloquial noun bitch-fest evolved, to describe people complaining about something together. Used in its verb form, to bitch is considered significantly less offensive than the noun bitch. It is not uncommon for people to say that they are "bitching" about something, whereas it is less common for someone to call himself or herself a "bitch." Although "to bitch" may maintain some of its feminine specificity, men are also commonly said to be "bitching" when they are complaining extensively about something (thus implying they are acting feminine).

The use of the term "bitching" has been extended to the common sewing or crafting get together known as a "stitch-n-bitch". At these gathering women (and occasionally men) gather to work on projects and talk or complain.

The adjective bitchy has a wider range of meanings. Someone who is bitchy may have a catty personality or they may merely be temperamental or moody. Bitchy is usually used to describe women; it can be somewhat feminizing when used for men. Alternately, when applied to articles of clothing, it suggests that they are worn to advertise sexual availability.

Bitchin' was a slang term used in the 1970s synonymous with the word "cool". It got popular exposure in the 1980s as valley girl slang.

Biatch is a pronunciation of bitch, which became popular through its frequent use in rap music and by black comedians. Beeotch, Beyotch, Byotch, Beyatch, and "Botch" are other ways of spelling the Biatch pronunciation of "bitch."

According to Google Trends the word "biatch" struck through during November 2004.

In cards

In poker

Common situations in poker where another player has "drawn out," or managed to defy probability and defeat them with a previously weaker hand, is occasionally referred to as "getting bitched."

To have the "bitch end" of a hand in poker is to have the weaker version of the same hand as another player. This situation occurs especially in poker games with community cards.

In hearts

In the game of hearts, the queen of spades (worth thirteen points alone) is referred to as "the bitch" or the "Black Bitch". The latter nickname has evolved into an alternative name for the game itself.

See also

• Bitch magazine
• Bitch (Meredith Brooks song)
• Third-wave feminism

Further reading

• Why Women Who Succeed Are Called Bitch by Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald, November 2007.

External links

• The B-Word? You Betcha., The Washington Post