pettish, a.
(ˈpɛtɪʃ)
[f. pet n.2 + -ish1.
But the earliest quots. precede our first example of the n., and are not clearly connected with it in sense.]
Subject to ‘pets’ or fits of offended ill humour; in a pet; proceeding from, pertaining to, or of the nature of, a pet; impatiently angry; peevish, ill-humoured, petulant; easily ‘put out’.
| [1552 Huloet, Petyshe, impetuosus. 1570 Levins Manip. 145/44 Pétish, effrænis, iracundus.] a 1591 R. Greenham Wks. (1599) 12, I am pettish, I am vncomfortable and vnquiet with them, with whom I liue. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. iv. (1642) 272 He became pettish, wayward, frantick, bloudy. 1653 Sclater Civ. Magistracy 17 The pettish Israelites (a people seldom if ever, pleased with God's present Providencies) who murmured under Moses. 1666 Pepys Diary 6 Aug., I checked her, which made her mighty pettish. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xii, She received the apology with the air of a pettish girl. 1838 Lytton Alice iii. vii, This was a very pettish speech in Evelyn. 1873 J. R. Green Letters (1901) i. 7, I was..too weak and pettish for the rougher horse-jokes of stronger boys. |