stiff-necked

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See also: stiffnecked

English

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Etymology

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From stiff +‎ neck +‎ -ed.

(figurative): Calque of Hebrew קשה ערף (Exodus 33). A biblical term similar to Swedish styvnackad, Ancient Greek σκληροτράχηλος (sklērotrákhēlos), Russian жестоковыйный (žestokovyjnyj), German halsstarrig etc.

Adjective

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stiff-necked (comparative more stiff-necked, superlative most stiff-necked)

  1. (literally) Having a stiff neck; suffering from torticollis
  2. (figuratively) Stubborn and arrogant.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, [] (King James Version), London: [] Robert Barker, [], →OCLC, Exodus 33:5:
      For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

Derived terms

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Translations

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