biddy

¹ American  

[bid-ee] / ˈbɪd i /

noun

Chiefly New England, South Midland, and Southern U.S.

plural

biddies

1. a chicken.

2. a newly hatched chick.

---

biddy ² American  

[bid-ee] / ˈbɪd i /

noun

plural

biddies

1. a fussbudget, especially a fussy old woman.

2. a female domestic servant, especially a cleaning woman.

---

biddy ¹ British  

/ ˈbɪdɪ /

noun

1. a dialect word for chicken hen

---

biddy ² British  

/ ˈbɪdɪ /

noun

1. informal a woman, esp an old gossipy or interfering one

---

Usage

What does biddy mean? Biddy can refer to a nosy, old woman or attractive, young woman. Both uses can be considered offensive. Content warning: this article contains references to sexual and sexist content.

Etymology

Origin of biddy¹

1595–1605; compare British dialect biddy (< ?) with same sense, usually as a call to chickens

Origin of biddy²

1700–10; special use of Biddy, by-form of Bridget ( def. )

Example Sentences

The presenter claimed most of her mistreatment stemmed from Blue Peter's notorious editor Biddy Baxter, who helmed the show for 25 years from 1962 until her retirement in 1988.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2023

“Now is the time to end this historic program that inadvertently limits educational opportunity by granting a preference to those whose parents are graduates of the college,” said Amherst President Biddy Martin.

From Washington Post • Nov. 17, 2021

Biddy Mason, born into slavery, becoming one of L.A.’s richest and most philanthropic women?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2021

“We are doing what we’re doing because we can, and because we should,” Biddy Martin, the college’s president, said.

From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2021

“But it makes no difference to you, you know,” said Biddy, calmly.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens