TERMAGANTS

Noun

termagants

plural of termagant

Source: Wiktionary

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.

Ter"ma*gant, a.

Definition: Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome; scolding.

– Ter"ma*gant*ly, adv. A termagant, imperious, prodigal, profligate wench. Arbuthnot.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition