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berdache

noun ber·dache \ bər-ˈdash \

Definition of berdache

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

Origin and Etymology of berdache

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

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