kobieta

Etymology
. (now considered poetic) and  (meaning narrowed down to “wife”). Popularized by the Polish Romantic writers in the 19th century. .
 * Possibly from or  (the ending  is found in some contemporaneous female names (e.g., , )); however, this theory has been rejected by most etymologists. Compare.
 * Boryś asserts the term is a Polish innovation with an unclear root kob- and potentially the original suffix being extended with (compare 🇨🇬 and ), but he rejects the existence of the suffix.
 * Bańkowski asserts that the term is not native and suggests origin, possibly a compound of  (compare modern 🇨🇬) and  (compare modern 🇨🇬), originally meaning “a pen for goats” but also, derogatorily, “an enclosure for service maidens”; however, he also questions why the form is -bie- and not -be-.
 * Sławski also rejects native origin but is ultimately unable to draw connections to other languages.
 * Długosz-Kurczabowa thinks the word may be of native origin, specifically a compound of and, but she also does not reject the possibility of foreign origin, suggesting, e.g.,  or even  and  (compare also 🇨🇬), as the source.

Noun

 * 1) woman
 * 2)  promiscuous woman
 * 3)  woman
 * 4)  hired female worker
 * 1)  promiscuous woman
 * 2)  woman
 * 3)  hired female worker
 * 1)  woman
 * 2)  hired female worker
 * 1)  hired female worker
 * 1)  hired female worker

Usage notes
This word was considered derogatory in the 16th century but since the 17th century, it has been the standard, neutral term for woman.