Definition of termagant Termagant

ter•ma•gant

We found 9 definitions of termagant from 6 different sources.

What does termagant mean?

Noun
termagant - a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman
		shrew
		disagreeable woman, unpleasant woman a woman who is an unpleasant person
		virago a noisy or scolding or domineering woman

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

termagant (Noun)
A quarrelsome, scolding woman, especially one who is old and shrewd.
termagant (Adjective)
Quarrelsome and scolding or censorious; shrewish.

termagant (n.)
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.
termagant (n.)
A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; -- formerly applied to both sexes, now only to women.
termagant (a.)
Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome; scolding.

termagant
tėr′ma-gant, n. a boisterous, bold woman.—adj. boisterous: brawling: tumultuous.—n. Ter′magancy, state or quality of being a termagant: turbulence.—adv. Ter′magantly. [M. E. Termagant or Tervagant, a supposed Mohammedan idol, represented in the old plays and moralities as of a violent character—O. Fr. Tervagant, Tervagan—It. Trivigante, perh. from the moon as wandering under three names of Selene (Luna) in heaven, Artemis (Diana) on earth, and Persephone (Proserpine) in the lower world.]

termagant
An outrageous scold from Termagantes, a cruel Pagan, formerly represented in diners shows and entertainments, where being dressed a la Turque, in long clothes, he was mistaken for a furious woman.