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Definition of tetchy

tetchy

/ˈtɛtʃ.i/
tetch · y
Adverb:tetchily
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tetchy Lexical Profile

tetchy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

British Bad-tempered, irritable, and easily annoyed or offended.

Example

"Lack of sleep always made the editor rather tetchy during morning production meetings."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for tetchy

• Nearby Words

tet
tetanus
tetchiness
tetchy
tether
tetherball
tethering

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 16th century, 'tetchy' derives from the obsolete Middle English noun 'teche' (meaning a blemish, fault, or fit of bad temper), which came from Old French 'teche' ('spot, mark, or quality'). It was later altered by folk etymology to produce the modern variant 'touchy'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tetchy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tetchy
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