'backbite' originates from Old English elements, specifically the words 'bæc' and 'bītan', where 'bæc' meant 'back' and 'bītan' meant 'to bite'.

'backbite' changed from Middle English forms such as 'bakbiten' (compound of 'bak' + 'biten') and eventually became the modern English word 'backbite'.

Initially, it referred to a literal action 'to bite at the back' (physical sense), but over time it evolved into its current figurative meaning of 'to attack someone's reputation by speaking ill of them behind their back'.