restiff, a.
(ˈrɛstɪf)
Also 5 restyf(e, -yffe; 6–7 restif(f)e; 8–9 restif.
[a. OF. restif (mod.F. rétif):—pop. L. *restīv-um, f. restāre rest v.2 Now more usually restive. Cf. resty a.1]
1. Of animals: Stationary (obs.); refusing to go forward; resisting control of any kind.
| c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xiii, Þei be not so wyse forto disseuer þe hert fro þe chaunge, for þei abyde styll and restyffe. 14.. Lat.-Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcher 608 Retrogradus, restyfe. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 118 b, Too long rest will cause them to be restife, and to tyer sooner. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. i. v. 32 Like restife Horses, they went the worse for Beating. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 324 The pamper'd Colt... Impatient of the Lash, and restiff to the Rein. 1747 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. 185 Like a restiff horse..he pains one's hands..to rein him in. 1778 W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. 14 Mar. an. 1775, The bull, broke-in yesterday, had likewise become restiff. 1843 Wordsw. Prose Wks. (1876) III. 58 We were stopt by one of the horses proving restiff. 1869 Echo 11 Feb., A fine young heifer..appeared rather restif. |
b. transf. Of persons.
| 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. iii. (1586) 134 There are some such restife iades, that they will not at any time be commaunded. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i, Was there ever such a restiff bawd? 1685 Dryden Thren. August. 472 So James the drowsy Genius wakes Of Britain.., Restiff and slumbring on its Arms. 1729 Gay Polly i, But husbands, like colts, are restif; and they require a long time to break them. 1788 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Peter's Pension Wks. 1812 II. 19 Your favourite Minister, I'm told runs restiff. 1822 Scott Peveril xxvii, But how if the youth proved restiff? |
| fig. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. iii. 1026 The way to win the restiff world to God. 1831 W. Godwin Thoughts Man 395 Restiff and uncomplying nature refuses to conform herself to his dicta. |
c. Of conditions or character.
rare.
| 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccccliv, This Restiff Stubbornness is never to be Excus'd. 1827 D. Johnson Ind. Field Sports 162 An obstinate restiff disposition. |
† 2. Of land: Lying fallow.
Obs. rare—1.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. x. 73 Now first the ficche is sowen;..Farrage in restyf lond [L. loco sterili], ydonged eek, Is doon. |