/ rɪˈkælsɪtrənt; NAmE / adjective
( formal ) unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control
► re·cal·ci·trance / -əns; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from Latin recalcitrant- kicking out with the heels, from the verb recalcitrare , based on calx , calc- heel.