Has anyone else heard this?

Biddy is a very old word for a chicken or hen. It appears in Twelfth Night.

Its use to describe fussy old women dates from the early 19C OED An old woman, esp. one regarded as fussy or interfering. Frequently in old biddy.

It’s also a pet form of the name Bridget which used to be used in the US for Irish domestic servants.

I suspect the version we know now has developed from hens clucking and flapping.

Hen is used colloquially in Scotland and parts of Northern England as a form of address for a girl or woman, typically as a term of affection or endearment.

I'm from the south of England where biddy can still be heard quite often to describe a fussy old woman.

I am Scottish and the word was used there but having lived in England since the late 1960's it isn't a word I have heard, but certainly it was used where I lived in Scotland.

I know that phrase, my Dad used it and he was a Londoner from way back. I don’t think Mum said it (Yorkshire). They tend to be very rude here with ‘old fart’ 😀

My parents, from East London, also used the word. There were old biddies and nosey old biddies, usually said with a smile and often in the persons hearing. I don’t recall anyone being offended.

Oh yes we definitely used the term old biddy I think it’s a universal to Uk term as we definitely used it in the east of England and my Nan and grandad from the midlands would say it
Now my Suffolk gran would say mawther don’t hear than one much

Heard if it but used it.

Strange that someone should ask this because I thought it was a very common expression. As already stated, it brings to mind hens fussing about. In fact, I have referred to this site as being full of sanctimonious old biddies.

I think it is / was very common not colloquial

It's a derogatory term for an older woman.

As Welbeck said, a derogatory term for an older woman so “an interfering old biddy”. I thought it was quite a common phrase.

I always thought of it as a benign - if somewhat patronising - term for sweet little old ladies, and I wouldn't be offended by it.

My Mum, born in Yorkshire, used to sign my husband's birthday cards 'love from the old biddy'!

Old buffers - for old men !

cornergran

My parents, from East London, also used the word. There were old biddies and nosey old biddies, usually said with a smile and often in the persons hearing. I don’t recall anyone being offended.

Yes, I remember it being used there too.

misb

Old buffers - for old men !

Old duffers surely?

mum2three

Strange that someone should ask this because I thought it was a very common expression. As already stated, it brings to mind hens fussing about. In fact, I have referred to this site as being full of sanctimonious old biddies.

Hey! Not so much of the ‘old’ 😂

Yes it is a word I grew up with in Yorkshire.

No, I'm aware of the term but haven't heard it used. but having past a certain point (not sure when) I hear people adding "bless" to conversations when addressing me.

It drives me spare when it goes alongside the patronising tone used.

welbeck

It's a derogatory term for an older woman.

It's used a lot where I come from in Yorkshire....more a term of endearment .

Have heard this used as well as ‘old dears’ in Lancs where we come from originally. In London it seems to be ‘old girls’ or ‘old boys’.
Tbh I like the American term ‘old timers’.

I’m in England and I’ve heard the term ‘biddies’ ……… not that I think it’s acceptable to use it though. I worked in the public sector and would never have referred to our service users as ‘ biddies’!

I've heard of old fogies, old biddies, old duffers and old folks being used in different places I've lived.

I think that it's rude .

South of London - yes to old biddies. But I would say they're old women, not men.