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Bitch originated as a noun which referred to a female dog or other canid, and is still often used with this meaning by breeders, dog aficionados, etc.
The word, however, has since come to be used as an insult, primarily against women but also more generally. In current English usage, "bitch" is most commonly used with its colloquial, insulting meanings, either in the noun form or as the adjective "bitchy" or the verb "to bitch." Its offensiveness and meaning vary highly depending on the form of the word and the context in which it is used.
"Bitch" as an insult against women
The offensive use of "bitch" presumably originated as a gender-specific insult, used to call a woman a dog. Used as an insulting noun, bitch most commonly refers to a woman who the term's users believe is excessively touchy, controlling, or aggressive. The Spin Doctors song, "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" (1991), uses the word "bitch" in this way:
- Been a whole lot easier since the bitch is gone
- Little Miss, Little Miss, Little Miss Can't-Be-Wrong
Used in this way, by a man to describe a woman, the word "bitch" can be perceived as highly offensive and sexist. However, "bitch" has lost most of its sexist undertones in some groups. In modern slang, it is often used as the female equivalent of male labels such as dickhead or asshole.
"Bitch" is also sometimes used by a man to describe his female sexual partner, whether she is his girlfriend, wife, etc. This usage is common in rap music and hip hop culture.
Other Meanings and Misinterpretations
The British techno artists The Prodigy titled one of their most famous tracks Smack My Bitch Up. Most fans do not think it is a reference to a woman. Amongst heroin users, the major artery used to inject the drug into the arm is referred to as 'your bitch'. When preparing for the injection, the arm is slapped to bring the vein closer to the surface. The euphoric undertones of the song and their similarity to the experience of heroin use further this interpretation.
Women reclaiming "bitch"
Some women, especially in the 1990s, began trying to "reclaim" the word, using it to celebrate the strong qualities traditionally denigrated by the use of the term. A good example of this is the 1997 song "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks, in which Brooks celebrates being a "bitch" as one of many aspects of herself:
- I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
- I'm a child, I'm a mother
- I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
- I do not feel ashamed
In this chorus, Meredith Brooks uses the word Bitch. This is because it is a one syllable word that means "bad person".
Many feminists have pointed out that women are often identified by their relationships with others whereas men are allowed a more independent identity. By beginning the chorus with "I'm a bitch" and ending it with "I do not feel ashamed", Brooks refuses to feel ashamed of her selfishness, vulnerability and independence, insisting that they can and do coexist with more stereotypically feminine qualities.
"Bitch" and sexual availability
Bitch can imply that someone is sexually available. In this context, the person using bitch implies their dominance and the other's subservience through the use of the word. 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" is usually suggesting that they are sexually active in this manner as a homosexual.
Variants: "Bitchy," "bitchin'" (or "bitchen"), "to bitch", and "bizzotch"
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, especially where their meaning departs entirely from the insulting meaning of "bitch."
"To bitch" is to complain about something. From this usage, the noun "bitch-fest" evolved: a "bitch-fest" refers to an group of people complaining about something together. Used in its verb form, "to bitch" is significantly less offensive than the noun "bitch." It is not uncommon, for example, for someone to say that they are "bitching" about something, whereas it would be highly uncommon for someone to call themselves a bitch. Also, although in some contexts "to bitch" does maintain some of its feminine specificity, it is relatively normal to say that a man is "bitching" about something.
The adjective "bitchy" has a wider range of meanings, but it also tends to be less strong than the noun "bitch." Someone who is bitchy may be merely temperamental or moody. "Bitchy" is more likely to be applied to women. When used to describe a man, "bitchy" is somewhat feminizing. Alternately, when applied to articles of clothing, it suggests that they are worn to advertise sexual availability.
"Bitchin'" was a valley girl term used in the 80's that was synonymous with the word, "cool".
"Bizzotch" is a variant pronunciation of bitch recently popularized in rap music by Snoop Doggy Dogg.
Trivia
Bitch is also the name of a Roald Dahl short story, featured in Switch Bitch.
Bitch is also the name of a Meredith Brooks song, featured in Blurring the Edges. It was also used in the film What Women Want.
Bitch has been used as a slang term to describe the middle of the backseat of a car, or the back seat of a motorcycle, as in riding bitch.
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