putaña

Old Spanish

Etymology

Uncertain. Likely a cognate of Italian puttana, and derived from a Vulgar Latin *pūtta, perhaps derived from *puta, feminine of Latin putus (“teeny boy”), but see that entry for issues with the existence of the term in Latin. For the suffix of this word, also compare the -ain ending of Old French putain (“whore”), nonain (“nun”), Mariain (“Mary”), Evain (“Eve”).

Noun

putaña f

1. whore

   Synonym: puta

   • betw. 1246-1252, Gonzalo de Berceo, Los Milagros de nuestra Señora , (ed. by Claudio García Turza, 1992, Madrid: Espasa-Calpe):

     Dicit al fijo de la mala putaña que venga ante mí

     Tell the son of a bitch to come to me!