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termagant

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termagant

a shrewish woman; scold
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Termagant

tumultuous Muslim deity (male); today, a virago. [Medieval Lit.: Espy, 125]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
The Termagant, aided by HMS Tenacious and HMS Liddesdale, sank the submarine but the three destroyers rallied to rescue the sub's crew.
Described in press reports as a "termagant" - a "harsh-tempered and overbearing woman" - Careless constantly interrupted and insulted the dignitary.
Morris, termagant that she is, was holding Vineet's hand, reassuring him that everything would be okay.
His tribulations included a termagant father who was impossible to please and placate.
Western representations of the Muslim woman: from termagant to odalisque.
Kate, so sweet of voice and broad of girth that the boy believes for a time that she's the singer Kate Smith, is actually a muumuu-wearing termagant. But he's saved by Herman, or, more precisely, the two save each other.
So when, for instance, Eyre commends the conscripted Ralph's military prowess, he does so using layered metatheatrical terms: "Hector of Troy was hackney to him, Hercules and Termagant scoundrels.
Angela Hargreaves from the Staffordshire town of Eccleshall, published 'Rotten Row' earlier this year, and its characters include a philandering boyfriend, a buxom, saucy caterer, a "decrepit old wreck" of a gentleman fond of hunting and breasts and a sex-crazed widow described as a "termagant little hag of a woman".
Now may Mahound that ruleth us, and Apollo our good lord And Termagant protect the King, and the Queen watch andward.
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