Who is the bastard: the interpretation of the abusive word

Perhaps a couple of centuries ago the answer to the question of who the bastard was would not cause much difficulty. The villagers, without delving into the subtleties of the reproduction of domestic animals, called this word any creature that came into being as a result of the mating of individuals of different species. That is, the bastard was a puppy, born of a dog from a wolf, or a foal conceived by a mare from an ass. In modern language, this word has become an abusive language, has a pronounced negative coloring.

Origin and meaning of the word

So, we found out who the bastard is. Now let's try to understand from what word this noun is formed. It is obvious that in its sounding can discern a somewhat modified root, present in the verbs "to wander" or "wander".

Our ancestors called so hybrid (hybrid) the litter of animals for the reason that it was unplanned. That is, the yard dog escaped into the woods, problozhdala there for a while, and then grew into an awkward creature that shares similarities with the wolf and the dog. The same could happen with an ass or a horse, if they mated with males of a different kind.

Answering the question of who the bastard is, we can assume that this word already in the antiquity had a negative meaning. Surely the owners of livestock did not feel particularly enthusiastic when their pets brought an offspring that did not meet the established standards or, worse, was unable to further reproduce.

How the word turned into an abusive language

Over time, the term began to be used not only for animals, but also for people, that is, children born out of wedlock. Originally called the offspring of servants, who conceived a child from a master, or a child whose mother was considered a walking woman. Proceeding from this it is not difficult to understand who the bastard is. In other words, this is the son of a harlot. It is not known whether illegitimate girls were called by such a word, because it still does not have a feminine gender.

In post-revolutionary Russia, when the birth of children without a father ceased to be considered a great sin, and after the end of the Great Patriotic War it became necessary and encouraged by the state, what such a "bastard" in direct meaning was gradually forgotten. Now this word can be heard in a brutal speech addressed to a person who does not follow the generally accepted moral principles, possessing low animal instincts.