feisty
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
1896, American, feist (“small, aggressive dog”) + -y;[1] the term feist (now rare) itself originally meant “stink”, and earlier “fart”, from Middle English, from Old English, from Proto-Germanic, presumably from Proto-Indo-European – see feist for details.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˈfaɪsti/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -aɪsti
Adjective[edit]
feisty (comparative feistier or more feisty, superlative feistiest or most feisty)
- Tenacious, energetic, spunky.
- (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- Belligerent; prepared to stand and fight, especially in spite of relatively small stature or some other disadvantage.
- (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- Easily offended and ready to bicker.
- (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
tenacious
|
belligerent
|
easily offended
|
References[edit]
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “feisty”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -y
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/aɪsti
- Rhymes:English/aɪsti/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- en:Personality