An offensive insult for a person considered worthless or mean; historically meant a child born outside of marriage, though this meaning is now archaic.
From Old French 'bastart,' possibly from 'bast' (a packsack used by travelers) or Germanic 'bass' (bundle); originally a neutral legal term for illegitimate children that became insulting over time.
The word 'bastard' is a perfect example of how shame gets embedded in language—what was once a factual label for children born outside wedlock became a curse word as society weaponized legitimacy against people.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.