Termagant

n. [Originally a kind of supposed deity of the heathens or Mohammedans, extremely vociferous and tumultuous in the ancient moralities, farces, and puppet-shows; O. Eng. Trivigant, Termagant, O. Fr. Tervagant, It. Termagante, Trivigante. “And oftentimes by Termagant and Mahound [Mahomet] swore.” Spens. F. Q. 6, 7, 47. “Bestemmiando Macone et Trivigante.” Ariosto, 12, 59.] 1. A vociferous, tumultuous deity. The lesser part on Christ believed well, On Termagant the more, and on Mahound. Fairfax. 2. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent woman;—formerly applied both to males and females, but especially to the former, now only to the latter. “The slave of an imperious and reckless termagant.” Macaulay.