mignotta
Italian
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps a borrowing or parallel formation of French mignotte (“favourite f”).
Traditionally derived as a spelling pronunciation of m. ignotae (Latin matris ignotae (“of unknown mother”)), used in name registers for foundlings. The shift from “unkown mother” to “whore” happened through the phrase figlio di (una) mignotta (“son of an unkown mother; foundling”), which merged semantically with similar formations like figlio di (una) puttana, figlio di buona madre, etc. all meaning “son of a whore”.
Noun
mignotta f (plural mignotte)
- (regional, derogatory, vulgar slang) whore, hooker, slut
- Synonym: puttana
- figlio di una mignotta ― son of a whore
References
- mignotta in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
- mignotta in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti, Olivetti Media Communication
Further reading
mignotta on the Italian Wikipedia.Wikipedia it
