C13: from earlier Tervagaunt, from Old French Tervagan, from Italian Trivigante; after an arrogant character in medieval mystery plays who was supposed to be a Muslimdeity
termagant in American English
(ˈtɜrməgənt)
noun
1. [T-]
an imaginary deity supposed by medieval Christians to be worshiped by Muslims and represented in morality plays as a boisterous, overbearing figure
2.
a boisterous, quarrelsome, scolding woman; shrew
adjective
3.
of the nature of a termagant; quarrelsome; scolding
Derived forms
termagancy (ˈtermagancy)
noun
termagantly (ˈtermagantly)
adverb
Word origin
ME Tervagant < OFr, name of an imaginary Muslim deity prob. introduced by the Crusaders
Examples of 'termagant' in a sentence
termagant
Take this redhead, for instance, this termagant, this copper-headed Amazon, this female dragon in angel's clothing.