/ ˈpetjulənt; NAmE ˈpetʃə-/ adjective
bad-tempered and unreasonable, especially because you cannot do or have what you want
► petu·lant·ly adverb
► petu·lance / -əns; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense immodest ): from French pétulant , from Latin petulant- impudent (related to petere aim at, seek). The current sense (mid 18th cent.) is influenced by pettish .