caitiff
caitiff · caitiffs
A base or despicable personA base or despicable person; a wretch.
/ˈkeɪtɪf/
Meaning
3 sensesA base or despicable person; a wretch.
a cowardly and despicable person
(obsolete)A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave.
(archaic)A villain, a coward or wretch.
Origin
From Middle English caitif, from Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”), akin to Old French chaitFrom Middle English caitif, from Anglo-Norman caitif (“captive”), akin to Old French chaitif (French chétif) and Middle Dutch keytyf, from a Vulgar Latin *cactīvus alteration via Gaulish influence from Latin captīvus (“captive”); compare Italian cattivo (“bad, wicked”). Doublet of captive.
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