Cumberbitch

English

Etymology

Blend of Cumberbatch +‎ bitch.

Noun

Cumberbitch (plural Cumberbitches)

1. (slang, vulgar, fandom slang) A female fan of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
   • 2012 January 8, Judith Brenan, “Re: New series of Sherlock”, in rec.arts.mystery‎^[1] (Usenet):

     But Rik, for the legion of Cumberbitches out there, the sight of Sherlock in his sheet makes up for any plot inconsistencies!

   • 2012 January 20, Rosamund Urwin, “The Benedict Cumberbatch band wagon”, in London Evening Standard:

     He [Cumberbatch] was with friends, and we debated going over to congratulate him on his performance but deemed it "too stalkery". How we rue the day. She and I were two of the original Cumberbitches, in what is now a nation of Cumberbitches.

   • 2013 January 22, Paul Jones, “First look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate”, in RadioTimes:

     Sherlock star Cumberbatch – who also appears as villain John Harrison in JJ Abrams' upcoming Star Trek sequel Into Darkness – has a fervent female following but it's possible even the most die hard Cumberbitch will think twice before pinning this photo to her bedroom wall.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Cumberbitch.

Usage notes

In an interview with Caitlin Moran of The Times, Cumberbatch expressed objections to this term, referring to the female fans who've adopted the moniker as "Cumberwomen" or "Cumbergirls" instead. He explained: "It's not even politeness. I won't allow [these fans] to be my bitches. I think it sets feminism back so many notches. You are… Cumberpeople." Although in these times (2017), he has referred to his [many] fans as the Cumbercollective.

Synonyms

• Cumberbabe, Cumberlady

Hypernyms

• Cumberfan, Cumberperson