Where does the word 'Biddy' come from?
"Biddy" is actually a very interesting word because it has two
separate origins, both fairly well-documented, which is unusual for
a slang term. The primary meaning of "biddy" is "chicken," and it
first appeared in the early 17th century. The word probably came
from the nonsense syllables used to call chickens -- something like
"here biddybiddybiddy," I suppose. By the late 18th century "biddy"
had been adopted as a derogatory slang term for women, much in the
same unfortunate way that "chick" was in the 1960's.
However, "biddy" in this sense might have died a welcome death had
it not been for the influx of Irish immigrants into the U.S. in the
early 19th century. Young Irish women often had their passage paid
by upper-class American families, for whom they would then work as
domestic servants while they paid off their debt. The practice was
so widespread that such women came to be known as "Biddies," from a
shortening of "Bridget," a common Irish women's name. This use of "biddie"
reinvigorated the word, and ever since it has been employed by
insolent children to torment their elders.
Curtesy of
http://www.word-detective.com/back-c.html
If you've got any Biddy Pictures
[I'm desperate for some PIX]
