| 释义 |
tetchy, techy, a.|ˈtɛtʃɪ|
Forms: α. 6–9 techy, 7 techie, teachy, -ie, 9 dial. teachy, teechy. β. 6– tetchy; also 7 tetchie, tecchy, titchie, tichy, 9 dial. titchy, tertchy. γ. dial. 8–9 tatchy, 9 tachy.
[In form, a deriv. of tetch, but that word being both less common and app. of later appearance, may be a back-formation from this. Derivation from tatch n.1 (in ME. tecche, 16th c. tetche) has been suggested; but there are difficulties both of form and sense.]
1. Easily irritated or made angry; quick to take offence; short-tempered; peevish, irritable; testy. (Cf. touchy, which has been associated with this from early in the 17th c.)
a. Of persons.
α1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iii. 32 (Qos.) Pretty foole, to see it teachie, and fall out with the Dugge. 1639W. Perkins in Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1888) IV. 55 Hee is as teachy as any wasp. 1642Rogers Naaman 99 A techie toy, that is, his prejudicate and forestalled heart. 1674Ray S. & E.C. Words (1691) 117 Techy, i.e. Touchy, peevish, cross, apt to be angry. 1817J. Gilchrist Intell. Patrimony 109 This pure and honourable body was very techy and ticklish on the point of privilege. 1853W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1864) IV. 159, I was a little techy under your bantering.
β1596Harington Ulysses upon Ajax E vj b, For which cause you are waxt so tetchie. 1611Cotgr., Se piquer, to be titchie, soone offended, quickly moued. Ibid. s.v. Poincte, Chatouilleux à la poincte..that readily answers the spurre; hence also, titchie, that will not indure to be touched. 1641in ‘Smectymnuus’ Vind. Answ. §2. 29 We are sullen.., tecchy and quarrelsome men. 1642Rogers Naaman 267 Jonas..was wondrous tetchy. 1733Swift Let. to D'chess Queensberry 20 Mar., You are grown very tetchy since I lost the dear friend who was my supporter. 1851Trench St. Aug. on Serm. on Mt. Introd. v. 69 note, Jerome..whom none can deny..to have been somewhat tetchy and prompt to take offence.
γ1746Exmoor Scolding (E.D.S.) 21 Ya purting, tatchy,..mincing Theng. 1892S. Hewett Peas. Sp. Devon 132, I niver zeed zich a tatchy, ill-contrived little twoad.
b. Of qualities, actions, etc.: Characterized by or proceeding from irritability.
1592Nobody & Someb. in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 279 Nay, now youle fall into your techy humour. 1610J. Guillim Heraldry iii. vii. (1660) 134 The Nettle is of so tetchie and froward a nature. 1652Mod. Policies iii. (1653) Colasterion, King-killing,..I know it a techy subject. 1841Lever C. O'Malley xxx, Gradually increased to a sore and techy subject. 1864–5Wood Homes without H. xxiii. (1868) 425 A mere stinging creature with a tetchy temper.
2. fig. Of land: see quots. dial.
1847–78Halliwell, Tetchy{ddd}applied to land that is difficult to work or to manage. 1904in Eng. Dial. Dict., If yer plough or roll when 'tis wet yer dew more harm nor good; that land's wonnerful tetchy, I can tell yer.
Hence ˈtetchily adv.; ˈtetchiness.
1647Trapp Comm. Ep. 664 As any man is more industrious and ingenious, so he teacheth more *teachily and painfully. 1755Johnson, Techily. 1862F. W. Robinson Owen iv. vi, ‘I'll not touch bit or sup to-day’, she cried, tetchily; ‘you can't do better than leave me to myself’.
1623Bp. Hall Contempl., O.T. xix. viii, Not the unjust fury and *techiness of the patient shall cross the cure. 1793A. Seward Lett. (1811) III. 246 The froward tetchiness; the unprincipled malice;..which generally darkened..the man's brain. 1905Times 5 Mar. 10/3 Were it not for M. K―'s tetchiness..I should feel inclined to..issue..a classic excuse. |