An archaic or variant spelling of caitiff, meaning a cowardly or contemptible person.
From Old French caitif, derived from Latin captivus (captive). The meaning shifted from 'captive' to 'coward' because captives were seen as weak or beaten down.
The journey from 'captive' to 'coward' reveals how historical societies viewed prisoners—not just as confined, but as fundamentally diminished people.
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