feisty

adj

Etymology: 1896, American, feist (“small, aggressive dog”) + -y; the term feist (now rare) itself originally meant “stink”, and earlier “fart”, from Middle English, from Old English, from Proto-Germanic, presumably from Proto-Indo-European – see feist for details.

1. Tenacious, energetic, spunky.

   “spirited and feisty”

   “She gave a feisty response during the debate.”

2. Belligerent; prepared to stand and fight, especially in spite of relatively small stature or some other disadvantage.

   “small but feisty”

   “The feisty wife of a world-renowned Russian sculptor emasculated an armed thug outside her Soho home — saying he “didn’t have the cojones to shoot her,” police sources said yesterday.”

3. Easily offended and ready to bicker.

   “feisty attitude”