What is a bitch? Today a bitch can have a lot of different meanings. The meaning of the word is defined by the context and tone with which it is spoken. The word bitch is used as a noun or as a verb. Depending on the part of speech, bitch is either negative or neutral.
             The word bitch dates back before the eleventh century. The first meaning bitch took was "the female of the dog" (OED). In the sentence "All dogs are well, I hope, and my favorite bitch" (OED Handy Andy), the word bitch is obviously referring to a female dog. A closely related definition is "The female of the fox, wolf, and occasionally of other beast; usually in combination with the name of the species." For example, ".... had been littered as bitch-wolves..."(OED Scott Monast). Here, the word bitch is referring to a female wolf.
             How would you like to be referred to as lewd or sensual? Another use of the word is just that, "Applied opprobriously to a woman; strictly a lewd or sensual woman". (OED) This meaning was very common in early literature. "Come out, thou hungry bitch" (OED J. Still).
             Have you ever used your bitch to see in the dark? In the early 1900's people began to keep one around the house. In Alaska and Canada a bitch is "a primitive form of lamp..." (OED). If you have an empty can with grease and a wick, you have a bitch.
             Today "bitch" has many new definitions. All of them originated as slang; however, they are accepted as if they were part of Proper English. The most common use for the word bitch is typically directed at either a man or a woman. When a person is referred to as a bitch it is usually because they have acted in an inappropriate manner according to the person calling them a bitch. "My teacher told me all my answers were wrong, what a bitch." Bitch is a universal word for negative action
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