Definition of "bastard"

(dated) A person who was born out of wedlock, and hence often considered an illegitimate descendant.  quotations  examples

A mongrel (biological cross between different breeds, groups or varieties).  examples

(vulgar, offensive or derogatory, sometimes referring specifically to a man) A contemptible, inconsiderate, overly or arrogantly rude or spiteful person.  quotations  examples

(especially Australia, endearing or humorous) A man, a fellow, a male friend.  examples

(often preceded by 'poor') A person deserving of pity.  examples

(informal) A child who does not know their father.  examples

(informal) Something extremely difficult or unpleasant to deal with.  examples

A variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin, fake or counterfeit.  quotations  examples

A bastard file.  examples

A sweet wine.  quotations  examples

A sword that is midway in length between a short-sword and a long sword; also bastard sword.  examples

An inferior quality of soft brown sugar, obtained from syrups that have been boiled several times.  examples

A large mould for straining sugar.  examples

A writing paper of a particular size.  examples

Of or like a bastard (illegitimate human descendant).  examples

Of or like a bastard (bad person).  examples

Of or like a mongrel, bastardized creature/cross.  examples

Of abnormal, irregular or otherwise inferior qualities (size, shape etc).

1. Spurious, lacking authenticity: counterfeit, fake.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • that bastard self-love which is so vicious in itself, and productive of so many vices

     a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). Of Self-conceit”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831

2. (of a language) Imperfect; not spoken or written well or in the classical style; broken.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Of what race could these people be? Their language was a bastard Arabic, and yet they were not Arabs; I was quite sure of that.

     1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887

Used in the vernacular name of a species to indicate that it is similar in some way to another species, often (but not always) one of another genus.  examples

(UK, vulgar) Very unpleasant.  examples

(printing) Abbreviated, as the half title in a page preceding the full title page of a book.  examples

(theater lighting) Consisting of one predominant color blended with small amounts of complementary color; used to replicate natural light because of their warmer appearance.  examples

(rare) Exclamation of strong dismay or strong sense of being upset.  quotations

(obsolete) To bastardize.  quotations