Category:Termagant

Ter"ma*gant, n. Etym: [oe. Trivigant, termagant, termagant (in sense 1), of. Tervagan; cf. It. Trivigante.]

1. An imaginary being supposed by the christians to be a mohammedan Deity or false god. He is represented in the ancient moralities, Farces, and puppet shows as extremely vociferous and tumultous. [obs.] Chaucer. "and oftentimes by termagant and mahound [mahomet] Swore." Spenser. The lesser part on christ believed well, on termagant the more, and On mahound. Fairfax.

2. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; -- formerly applied to Both sexes, now only to women. This terrible termagant, this nero, this pharaoh. Bale (1543). The slave of an imperious and reckless termagant. Macaulay.

Termagant Ter"ma*gant, a.

Defn: tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome; Scolding. -- ter"ma*gant*ly, adv. A termagant, imperious, prodigal, profligate wench. Arbuthnot.