PET'ULANCE'ULANCY, noun [Latin petulantia.] Freakish passion; peevishness; pettishness; sauciness. Peevishness is not precisely synonymous with petulance; the former implying more permanence of a sour, fretful temper; the latter more temporary or capricious irritation. That which looked like pride in some, and petulance in others. The pride and petulance of youth.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI