wasp"ish*ness

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.Resembling a wasp in form; having a slender waist, like a wasp. [1913 Webster]

2.Quick to resent a trifling affront; characterized by snappishness; irritable; irascible; petulant; snappish. [1913 Webster]

He was naturally a waspish and hot man.— Bp. Hall.[1913 Webster]

Much do I suffer, much, to keep in peace This jealous, waspish, wrong-head, rhyming race.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Snappish; petulant; irritable; irascible; testy; peevish; captious. [1913 Webster] -- Wasp"ish*ly, adv. -- Wasp"ish*ness, n. [1913 Webster]