berdache

noun

ber·​dache bər-ˈdash 

plural berdaches

dated, offensive

: an American Indian who assumes the dress, social status, and role of the opposite sex

Word History

Etymology

American French, alteration of French bardache catamite, from Italian dialect (southern Italy) bardascio, from Arabic bardaj slave, from Persian bardag prisoner, from Middle Persian vartak

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above