bastard

Bastard is a term with multiple related meanings. Historically, it denotes a person born to parents who were not married to each other; such a child was commonly described as illegitimate and, in many societies, faced social stigma and sometimes legal disadvantages. In contemporary usage the term is often a crude insult rather than a precise description, so many style guides discourage its casual use and prefer neutral terms such as illegitimate or nonmarital.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French bastard, from Latin bastardus. The exact origin is unclear, but it entered English in the Middle Ages and came to denote illegitimacy in law and custom as well as in everyday speech.

Legal and social history: In many jurisdictions illegitimacy affected inheritance rights, legitimacy ceremonies, and social status. Modern law in most places treats all children as equal before the law, with paternity recognition and marital status having less determining power over rights. Discussions of lineage and legitimacy continue in literature and culture, often as themes rather than factual descriptions.

Other uses: The term also appears in literature, film, and music as insult or in dialogue about birth and status. In historical weaponry, the bastard sword (also known as the hand-and-a-half sword) is a noted mid- to late-medieval weapon, capable of being used with one or two hands. The word also appears in phrases such as bastardization to denote adulteration or corruption of a thing, including language or tradition.

Modern usage: Today, the term is considered offensive in many contexts; in formal writing and respectful speech, neutral terms are preferred. Its history reflects changing social attitudes toward birth, legitimacy, and dignity.