Etymology

petulance

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Today it means: Rudeness, insolence. Full definition →

First used 16th–19th c.Middle French pétulance ← Latin petulantia
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The story

  1. Latin · derived frompetulantia
  2. Middle French · derived frompétulance
  3. English todaypetulance

From Middle French pétulance, and its source, Latin petulantia.

First known use, by meaning

  • 16th–19th c. Rudeness, insolence.
  • 17th–19th c. An insolent remark or act.
  • from 18th c. Childish impatience or sulkiness; testiness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.