What Is A Witch?
The word "witch" comes from "wicce" meaning "women", and from "wicca" meaning "wise", both of which come from the Old Saxon word "wic" meaning "to bend or flex". Thus, "witchcraft" translates to "craft of the wise (women)" or "The craft of wisdom". This is because women were usually the healers and teachers, the "wise ones". And, through the ages, in many cultures, it has been considered wise to bend and flex as a blade of grass in a high wind, instead of standing as solid as an oak tree whose limbs are broken in a high wind. This is one of the basic principles of what is commonly called "The Craft" among its' modern practitioners, and is the reason that improvisation is acceptable and even expected in most rituals. A male practitioner of The Craft is still a witch, not a warlock. When a petitioner is initiated into The Craft, they take an oath to use what they learn only to help people. If they violate this oath, they become a warlock [see definitions] regardless of sex. An exception to this is one of the eclectic (new-age)covens in southern California, who have the men, armed with swords, outside of the circle guarding the women inside of the circle. They call their men "war-locks" but mean "fighting guards".
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