Biddy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɪdi/
• Rhymes: -ɪdi

Derived from Biddy, diminutive form of Bridget. It came to be generic name for an Irish maid (US), and then an old woman.

Full definition of biddy

Noun

1. (pejorative) A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody.
2. (uncommon) An attractive little girl.
3. (archaic, colloquial) An Irish maidservant.
4. (by extension, derogatory) Any Irishwoman
5. A name used in calling a hen or chicken, often as "biddy-biddy-biddy".
• 1915 Burgess, Thornton W., The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, Little, Brown, and Company, Boston, Ch. XI:"Well, we'll see about it by and by," said Farmer Brown's boy. "There's the breakfast bell, and I haven't fed the biddies yet."

Noun

1. (US) Alternative spelling of bittie