bitchy

bitchy
bitchy 1925, U.S. slang, "sexually provocative;" later (1930s) "spiteful, catty, bad-tempered" (usually of females); from BITCH (Cf. bitch) + -Y (Cf. -y) (2). Eerlier in reference to male dogs though to look less rough or coarse than usual.
Mr. Ramsay says we would now call the old dogs "bitchy" in face. That is because the Englishmen have gone in for the wrong sort of forefaces in their dogs, beginning with the days when Meersbrook Bristles and his type swept the judges off their feet and whiskers and an exaggerated face were called for in other varieties of terriers besides the wire haired fox. [James Watson, "The Dog Book," New York, 1906]
Related: Bitchily; bitchiness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bitchy — itchy adj. marked by or arising from malice. [slang] Syn: catty, cattish. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bitchy — ► ADJECTIVE (bitchier, bitchiest) informal ▪ malicious; spiteful. DERIVATIVES bitchily adverb bitchiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • bitchy — [bich′ē] adj. bitchier, bitchiest Slang bad tempered or malicious: used esp. of a woman bitchily adv. bitchiness n …   English World dictionary

  • bitchy — [[t]bɪ̱tʃi[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If someone is being bitchy or is making bitchy remarks, they are saying unkind things about someone. [INFORMAL] I m sorry. I know I was bitchy on the phone... Women are not the only ones who say bitchy… …   English dictionary

  • bitchy — UK [ˈbɪtʃɪ] / US adjective Word forms bitchy : adjective bitchy comparative bitchier superlative bitchiest informal rude or cruel about or towards someone else Why is he being so bitchy? bitchy remarks/comments Derived words: bitchily adverb… …   English dictionary

  • bitchy — adj. (colloq.) nasty bitchy about * * * [ bɪtʃɪ] (colloq.) [ nasty ] bitchy about …   Combinatory dictionary

  • bitchy — bitch|y [ˈbıtʃi] adj unkind and unpleasant about other people = ↑catty ▪ a bitchy remark ▪ She can be really bitchy sometimes. >bitchily adv >bitchiness n [U] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bitchy — bitch|y [ bıtʃi ] adjective INFORMAL rude or cruel about or toward someone else: Why is he being so bitchy? bitchy remarks/comments ╾ bitch|i|ly adverb ╾ bitch|i|ness noun uncount …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bitchy — adjective informal unkind and unpleasant about other people: a bitchy remark | She can be really bitchy sometimes. bitchily adverb bitchiness noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • bitchy — adj. Bitchy is used with these nouns: ↑mood …   Collocations dictionary

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