The term cantankerous has its roots in Wiltshire County slang in the United Kingdom during the mid-eighteenth century. It is believed to have originated from the word contenkerous, which may have been a combination of contentious and rancorous, or derived from the Middle English term contankour meaning “troublemaker” (potentially influenced by either raucous or rancorous). Exploring the latter possibility, contankour can be traced back to the Anglo-Norman word contec, signifying “discord”, which stems from Old French contechier, a blend of the prefix con- meaning “with”, and the verb atachier meaning “to hold fast”. This etymology suggests that discord arises from stubbornness. Despite peaking in popularity in 1953, the usage of the term cantankerous has remained relatively stable over time.
