Pet"u*lant (?), a. [L. petulans,
-antis, prop., making slight attacks upon, from a lost dim. of
petere to fall upon, to attack: cf. F. pétulant.
See Petition.] 1. Forward; pert; insolent;
wanton. [Obs.] Burton.
2. Capriciously fretful; characterized by ill-
natured freakishness; irritable. "Petulant moods."
Macaulay.
Syn. -- Irritable; ill-humored; peevish; cross; fretful;
querulous.