Caitiff

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkeɪtɪf/

Origin

From Old French caitif ("captive"), a variant of chaitif (French chétif), from a Proto-Romance alteration of Latin captivus ("captive"); compare Italian cattivo ("bad, wicked").

Full definition of caitiff

Noun

1. A base or despicable person; a wretch
2. (obsolete) a captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave
3. (archaic) a villain, a coward or wretch
• Late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Knight's Tale", The Canterbury TalesFor, certes, lord, þer is noon of us alle
  Þat she ne haþ been a duchesse or a queene.
  Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
  Þanked be Fortune and hire false wheel
• 1989, Anthony Burgess, The Devil's Mode‘There are plenty of Huns who have defected to the Romans, seeking gold and a quiet life. One of my first tasks as paramount chief is to bring those caitiffs back and crucify them.’

Adjective

1. Especially despicable; cowardly
• 1809, Washington Irving, ,Beshrew those caitiff scouts that conspired to sully his honest name by such an imputation!
• 1867, Dante Alighieri, (translator), ,Commingled are they with that caitiff choir
• Of Angels, who have not rebellious been,Nor faithful were to God, but were for self.
• 1875, Sidney Lanier, ,Is Honor gone into his grave?Hath Faith become a caitiff knave,And Selfhood turned into a slave
• To work in Mammon’s cave,
• Fair Lady?