knappish

English

Etymology

From knap (“to strike”) +‎ -ish.

Adjective

knappish (comparative more knappish, superlative most knappish)

1. (obsolete) Peevish; snappish.
   • 1569, Richard Grafton, “Richarde the Thirde”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume II, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 809:

     [H]e reiected the Dukes requeſt with many ſpitefull and knappiſhe wordes, which ſo wounded the Dukes hart with hatred and miſtruſt, that he could neuer after endure to looke right on king Richard, but euer feared hys owne lyfe, […]

Further reading

• “knappish”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.