Go to MSN Homeencarta®
HomeEncyclopediaDictionariesWorld AtlasStudy CentreQuizzesMore
Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Click to move up the list of words
Beowulf
bequeath
bequest
bequest savings motive
berate
Berber
berberis
berceuse
berdache
bereave
bereaved
bereft
Berenice’s Hair
beret
beretta
berg (1)
berg (2)
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "berdache" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

berdache
berdache [ bər dásh ] (plural berdaches)


noun 
Definition:
 
Native N American cross-dresser: among some Native North American peoples, somebody, usually a man, who takes on the dress, role, and status of the opposite sex
[Early 19th century. Via French, 'catamite' < Arabic bardaj 'enslaved labourer']
Encarta® World English Dictionary [World English Edition] © & (P)2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
• Featured columns
• Encarta's best lists
• Test your knowledge
Also on MSN
• Entertainment on MSN: Top Movies
• MSN Careers: Job Hunting Made Easy
• Today's News on MSN
Have Your Say
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Encarta Products
Upgrade your experience
© 2008 Microsoft