feisty
English
editEtymology
edit1896, 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
editfeisty (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
editTranslations
edittenacious
|
belligerent
|
easily offended
|
References
edit- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “feisty”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams
editCategories:
- 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