# caitiff

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkeɪtɪf/

## Definitions
1. A base or despicable person; a wretch.
2. A captive or prisoner, particularly a galley slave.
3. A villain, a coward or wretch.

## Etymology
From 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/caitiff