Petulant \Pet"u*lant\, a. [L. petulans, -antis, prop., making slight attacks upon, from a lost dim. of petere to fall upon, to attack: cf. F. p['e]tulant. See Petition.]

1. Forward; pert; insolent; wanton. [Obs.]

--Burton.

2. Capriciously fretful; characterized by ill-natured freakishness; irritable. ``Petulant moods.'' --Macaulay.

Syn: Irritable; ill-humored; peevish; cross; fretful; querulous.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)