Bâtard

Bâtard is a French term with several related meanings. In modern French, it denotes an illegitimate child; the word comes from Old French bastart or bastard, ultimately from Late Latin bastardus. In everyday language it is considered pejorative when applied to a person, though in historical or literary contexts it may appear neutrally or descriptively in genealogical records and discussions of naming practices.

In cuisine, bâtard designates a type of bread loaf. It is an oblong loaf shaped between a baguette and a boule, with a thick crust and an open crumb. In bakeries it is typically longer and thicker than a loaf called a baton, and it may weigh several hundred grams. The dough is commonly leavened with a preferment or sourdough; it is sold fresh in many French bakeries and in artisan bakeries worldwide.

In Burgundy, Bâtard-Montrachet is a Grand Cru vineyard on the Montrachet hillside; wines labeled Bâtard-Montrachet are primarily white, produced from Chardonnay. The name is thought to derive from a historical designation meaning “bastard of Montrachet,” reflecting landholding or naming conventions. The name also appears in other vineyard names such as Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.

Beyond its literal meanings, bâtard appears in cultural and historical contexts as a surname or descriptor, and is encountered in literature and discussions of social history.