PUGNACIOUS
ADJECTIVES
► BAD of persons: very tough; pugnacious; formidable; hence, formidably skilled → 1855 Amer. sl., esp. African-American
► BATTAILOUS fond of fighting; ready or eager for battle; warlike, bellicose, pugnacious → 1380 arch.
► FIGHTY inclined or eager to fight; easily angered, bad-tempered; pugnacious → 1927 Amer. dial.
► MILLY aggressive, pugnacious → 1990 African-American sl.
► RIXOSOUS given to brawling, pugnacious, quarrelsome → 1623 obs.
► SERVIGROUS headstrong, strong-willed, obstinate, pugnacious → 1909 Amer. dial.
► SWORD-RATTLING threatening military action; aggressive, pugnacious → 1914
► TEETHY ill-tempered, peevish, cross; crabbed; pugnacious → 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
NOUNS – PERSON
► HARD-ARSE ► HARD-ASS a tough, unyielding, severe person; a severe and often pugnacious person → 1940 US sl.
► HARD-BOILED EGG a severe and pugnacious person → 1880 US sl.
► KEMPIE ► KEMPY a bold or pugnacious person; an energetic, lively child → 1822 Sc.
► TERRIER a man of bad temper and character; a pugnacious fellow → 1822 Sc. & Eng. dial.
Lexicophilia 