bastard
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈbɑːs.təd/
ipa: /ˈbæs.tæd/
ipa: /ˈbæs.tɚd/
rhymes: -ɑːstə(ɹ)d
rhymes: -æstə(ɹ)d
Forms: form: bastards
form: bastid
Etymology: From Middle English bastard, bastarde, from Old English bastard (used as an epithet), from Anglo-Norman bastard, Old French bastart (“illegitimate child”), perhaps via Medieval Latin bastardus, of obscure origin.
Possibly from Frankish *bāst (“marriage, relationship”) + Old French -ard, -art (pejorative suffix denoting a specific quality or condition). Frankish *bāst derives from a North Sea Germanic variety of Proto-Germanic *banstuz (“bond, connection, relationship, marriage with a second woman of lower status”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to tie, bind”) and is related to West Frisian boaste (“marriage, matrimony”), Middle Dutch bast (“lust, heat”), and more distantly to English boose (“cow-stall”). The term probably originally referred to a child from a polygynous marriage of heathen Germanic custom — a practice not sanctioned by the Christian churches.
Alternatively, Old French bastart may have originated from the Old French term fils de bast (“packsaddle son”), meaning a child conceived on an improvised bed (medieval saddles often doubled as beds while travelling). However chronology makes this difficult, as bastard is attested in Old French from 1089 (Middle Latin bastardus as early as 1010), yet Old French bast (modern French bât), though attested since 1130 with the meaning of "beast of burden", doesn't acquire the specific meaning of "packsaddle" until the 13c., making it too late to have given rise to the terms bastard and bastardus with this sense. The French Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales supports the Germanic theory further above as being most likely.
Senses: examples: text: Jarrod: Who are you?
Heath: Your father’s bastard son.
ref: 1965, The Big Valley:
synonyms: love child
born in the vestry
illegitimate
glosses: A person who was born out of wedlock, and hence often considered an illegitimate descendant.
glosses: A mongrel (biological cross between different breeds, groups or varieties).
examples: text: Some bastard stole my car while I was helping an injured person.
text: You sick bastard!
text: Don't be such a bastard already!
text: I assume that bastard won't be seen again.
text: “Oh my God, they killed Kenny!” “You bastards!”
ref: 1997, South Park television program
synonyms: word: son of a bitch
word: arsehole
word: asshole
word: arsehole
word: ass
word: assface
word: asshat
word: asshole
word: asswipe
word: bastard
word: bitch
word: blackguard
word: blaggard
word: buttlicker
word: buttmunch
word: carrion
word: cockhead
word: cocklicker
word: cocksucker
word: cowson
word: crud
word: cunt
word: dick
word: dickhead
word: dickwad
word: dickweed
word: dipshit
word: douche
word: douchebag
word: douchecanoe
word: douchewagon
word: earthworm
word: fribble
word: fucker
word: fuckface
word: fuckhead
word: fuckstain
word: fucktard
word: git
word: heel
word: hilding
word: insect
word: jackass
word: jerk
word: loser
word: louse
word: mahfugga
word: mongrel
word: motherfucker
word: paskudnyak
word: pigwidgeon
word: pigfucker
word: prick
word: queef
word: raasclaat
word: ratfink
word: schmuck
word: scrub
word: scut
word: sewer rat
word: sheep-biter
word: shit
word: shitbird
word: shitehawk
word: shitface
word: shithead
word: skate
word: slag
word: son of a bitch
word: son of a gun
word: son of a whore
word: stinker
word: swine
word: turdball
word: twattock
word: wankpuffin
word: whoreson
word: worm
word: yutz
word: assbucket
word: asshat
word: asshole
word: assmonkey
word: assmouth
word: assmunch
word: assmuncher
word: assbreath
word: assbag
word: asshead
word: assface
word: asstard
word: assfaggot
word: assfag
word: assfuck
word: asscunt
word: assfucker
word: assweed
word: asswipe
word: bag of dicks
word: ball sack
word: bastard
word: berk
word: blackguard
word: buttface
word: butthead
word: buttmunch
word: buttmuncher
word: choad
word: chunk-blower
word: cock gobbler
word: cock-knocker
word: cockmunch
word: cockmuncher
word: cockweasel
word: cockwad
word: cockhead
word: cockface
word: cockwaffle
word: cockwipe
word: cockshit
word: cockbag
word: cocksack
word: cocksucker
word: cocksuck
word: cockbreath
word: cockfag
word: cockfuck
word: cockfucker
word: cullion
word: cumbucket
word: cum guzzler
word: cumrag
word: cumstain
word: cunt
word: cuntard
word: cuntass
word: cuntbag
word: cuntbitch
word: cuntbreath
word: cuntbucket
word: cuntface
word: cunthead
word: cuntmuffin
word: cuntlicker
word: cuntbiscuit
word: cuntfuck
word: cuntfucker
word: cuntlapper
word: cunt muncher
word: cuntrag
word: cuntshit
word: cuntstain
word: cuntsucker
word: cuntwad
word: cuntwipe
word: cuntwaffle
word: cuntweasel
word: cuntweed
word: cuntwhacker
word: dick
word: dickass
word: dickbag
word: dickbiscuit
word: dickbreath
word: dickbucket
word: dickface
word: dickfuck
word: dickfucker
word: dickhead
word: dicklicker
word: dick munch
word: dick muncher
word: dicknose
word: dicknut
word: dicksack
word: dickshit
word: dickstain
word: dickster
word: dicksucker
word: dicktard
word: dickwad
word: dickweasel
word: dickweed
word: dillweed
word: dirtbag
word: dirthead
word: dirtwad
word: douche
word: douchebag
word: douche boat
word: doucheburger
word: douchecanoe
word: douchelord
word: douche nozzle
word: douchewad
word: douchewagon
word: fag
word: faggot
word: faggotface
word: fuck
word: fuckball
word: fuckchop
word: fucker
word: fucknozzle
word: fucktrumpet
word: fuckoid
word: fuckrod
word: fuckweed
word: fuckwit
word: fuckhead
word: fuckface
word: fuckstick
word: fuckstain
word: fuckster
word: fuckskull
word: fuckshit
word: fuckweasel
word: fuckwaffle
word: fuckbag
word: fuckbucket
word: fucknose
word: fucktard
word: fuckmuffin
word: fuckmitten
word: git
word: hosebag
word: jackass
word: jackoff
word: jagoff
word: jagweed
word: jerk
word: jerkball
word: jerko
word: jerkoff
word: jerkwad
word: jerkweed
word: jitbag
word: jizzbag
word: knob-gobbler
word: knob polisher
word: lowlife
word: meanie
word: nark
word: paddock
word: penishead
word: piece of crap
word: piece of garbage
word: piece of junk
word: piece of shit
word: pile of crap
word: pile of shit
word: piece of trash
word: piece of work
word: pig
word: pissface
word: pisspot
word: prick
word: prickhead
word: prickface
word: prickwad
word: pukeball
word: pukestain
word: pussybreath
word: sack of shit
word: schmuck
word: scoundrel
word: scum
word: scumbag
word: scumbreath
word: scumbug
word: scumbutt
word: scumface
word: scumfuck
word: scumhead
word: scumhole
word: scumlord
word: scuzz
word: scuzzball
word: scuzzbucket
word: scuzzoid
word: shitass
word: shitball
word: shitbag
word: shit bird
word: shitcunt
word: shitbreath
word: shitbucket
word: shitcock
word: shitdick
word: shiteater
word: shitguzzler
word: shithook
word: shitlicker
word: shitpot
word: shitrag
word: shithead
word: shitlord
word: shitsack
word: shitface
word: shitwad
word: shitheap
word: shitstain
word: shitheel
word: shitgibbon
word: shitgoblin
word: shitneck
word: shitnuts
word: shitnugget
word: shitfuck
word: shitfucker
word: shitmuncher
word: sleaze
word: sleazeball
word: sleazebag
word: sleazebucket
word: sleazehole
word: sleazewad
word: slimebucket
word: slimeface
word: slimehole
word: slimewad
word: snotbag
word: snotball
word: snotface
word: snothead
word: snotwad
word: sourhead
word: squib
word: tool
word: tosser
word: tosspot
word: undesirable
word: vonce
word: wanker
word: weasel
word: wet wipe
glosses: A contemptible, inconsiderate, overly or arrogantly rude or spiteful person.
raw_tags: referring specifically to a man
examples: text: lucky bastard
text: funny bastard
text: Get over here, you old bastard!
glosses: A man, a fellow, a male friend.
examples: text: Poor bastard, I feel so sorry for him.
text: These poor bastards started out life probably in bad or broken homes.
qualifier: often preceded by ‘poor’
glosses: A suffering person deemed deserving of compassion.
glosses: A child who does not know its father.
examples: text: Life can be a real bastard.
glosses: Something extremely difficult or unpleasant to deal with.
examples: text: The architecture was a kind of bastard, suggesting Gothic but not being true Gothic.
text: There were also made good and politic laws that parliament, against usury, which is the bastard use of money...
ref: 1622, Francis Bacon, Bacon's History of the Reign of King Henry VII, Cambridge University Press, published 1902, page 62:
glosses: A variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin, fake or counterfeit.
glosses: A bastard file.
examples: text: […] we ſhall haue all the world drinke browne & white baſtard.
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 72, column 2:
glosses: A kind of sweet wine.
glosses: A sword that is midway in length between a short-sword and a long sword; also bastard sword.
glosses: An inferior quality of soft brown sugar, obtained from syrups that have been boiled several times.
glosses: A large mould for straining sugar.
synonyms: copy
glosses: A writing paper of a particular size.
examples: text: If you are a politician, you make sure that you know all such references in case an interviewer suddenly asks, 'Are you one of the bastards in Mr Major's cabinet?'
ref: 2000, Peter Hobday, Managing the message, Allison & Busby:
text: While John Major managed to get the Maastricht Treaty through parliament, despite the efforts of the “bastards” in his cabinet, the 2001 Conservative General Election campaign was fought on entirely eurosceptic lines.
ref: 2011, Duncan Hall, A2 Government and Politics: Ideologies and Ideologies in Action, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 62:
text: In the UK, Conservative Maastricht rebels (the 'bastards') almost brought down Conservative Prime Minister John Major's government.
ref: 2014 September 23, Stanley Johnson, Stanley, I Resume: Further recollections of an exuberant life, Biteback Publishing, →ISBN:
text: One “bastard,” the Minister for Wales, John Redwood (who mounted an unsuccessful campaign to displace the Tory chief, John Major), was removed in a Cabinet reshuffle; but was his young successor William Hague any more reliable?
ref: 2014, Melvin J. Lasky, Profanity, Obscenity and the Media, Transaction Publishers, →ISBN:
text: But there is no doubt that the “bastards,” who had tormented so many Tory leaders over the years, had won. The longed-for break with “Europe” had finally come, but at the same price that Americans paid for Trump's takeover of the Republican Party.
ref: 2020 September 3, Ian Buruma, The Churchill Complex: The Rise and Fall of the Special Relationship from Winston and FDR to Trump and Johnson, Atlantic Books, →ISBN:
topics: government
politics
glosses: A Eurosceptic Conservative MP, especially in the government of John Major.
Synonyms: word: bantling
word: bastard
word: bastardling
word: bastid
word: batchelor's son
word: by-blow
word: degenerate
word: fruit of adultery
word: haramzada
word: illegitimate
word: love child
word: mamzer
word: misbegotten
word: natural child
word: nullius filius
topics: legal
law
word: outside child
word: slink
word: whoreson
Hypernyms: word: child
word: person
Hyponyms: word: Abishag
word: filia populae
word: filius populi
word: son of a whore
Coordinate terms: sense: illegitimate child
word: bastardess
Derived terms: word: /b/tard
word: abastard
word: bastage
word: bastard fox
word: bastardhood
word: bastardisation
word: bastardization
word: bastardise
word: bastardize
word: bastardish
word: bastardism
word: bastarditis
word: bastardless
word: bastardlike
word: bastardling
word: bastardly
word: bastardness
word: bastardo
word: bastardous
word: bastardship
word: bastardy
word: bastardry
word: bastich
word: bastard agrimony
word: bastard alkanet
word: bastard ashlar
word: bastard bar
word: bastard big-footed mouse
word: bastard cabbage
word: bastard cabbage tree
word: bastard camphor tree
word: bastard cedar
word: bastard coolibah
word: bastard craps
word: bastard-dom
word: bastard dory
word: bastard eel
word: bastard eigne
word: bastard file
word: bastard gemsbok
word: bastard grass
word: bastard gumwood
word: bastard halibut
word: bastard hartebeest
word: bastard hemp
word: bastard hogberry
word: bastard horn snake
word: bastard indigo
word: bastard ironwood
word: bastard jarrah
word: bastard mahogany
word: bastard manchineel
word: bastard mulga
word: bastard myall
word: bastard myrobalan
word: bastard oak
word: bastard operator from hell
word: bastard pellitory
word: bastard pennyroyal
word: bastard pimpernel
word: bastard pop
word: bastard quiver tree
word: bastard rattlesnake
word: bastard rocket
word: bastard saffron
word: bastard sage
word: bastard sandalwood
word: bastard senna
taxonomic: Microchirus azevia
word: bastard sole
word: bastard speedwell
word: bastard strangles
taxonomic: Acipenser nudiventris
word: bastard sturgeon
word: bastard sugar
word: bastard sword
word: bastard tallow-wood
taxonomic: Albizia julibrissin
word: bastard tamarind
taxonomic: Butea monosperma
word: bastard teak
word: bastard title
word: bastard toadflax
taxonomic: Latridopsis forsteri
word: bastard trumpeter
taxonomic: Lepidochelys spp.
word: bastard turtle
word: bastard type
taxonomic: Acacia luederitzii
word: bastard umbrella thorn
word: bastard verdict
word: bastard viol
taxonomic: Quercus austrina
word: bastard white oak
word: bastard wing
taxonomic: Afrocarpus falcatus
word: bastard yellowwood
word: brown bastard
word: rat bastard
word: rat-bastard
word: Rhineland bastard
Related terms: word: adulterine
word: bar sinister
word: baton sinister
word: bend sinister
word: born in the vestry
word: git
word: jerk