Foul, dirty filthy .

Nasty woman, nasty man … nasty people?

Etymology of nasty –

The word “nasty” has an interesting etymology, tracing back to the late Middle Ages. It originally appeared in the 14th century as an adjective in Middle English, spelled “nastie,” which likely meant “foul, dirty, or filthy.” This usage was possibly influenced by the Old French word “nastre,” meaning “bad, strange,” but its further origin is uncertain. Some linguists suggest it may have come from earlier Scandinavian sources, such as the Old Norse word “hóstigr,” meaning “dirty,” or it may have developed independently in a Germanic language. Over time, the meaning of “nasty” evolved to encompass not just physical dirtiness, but also moral offensiveness, unpleasantness, and spitefulness.