a. [f. COLT sb. + -ISH.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling a colt or colts.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 9 b. In horses … such as been coltish or ful of courage [etc.].
1602. Life T. Cromwell, III. i. 95. Whether [the horses in this country] are not coltish, given much to kicking or no.
1620. Hic Mulier (title), A Medicine to cure the Coltish Disease of the Staggers.
1833. Sir C. Bell, Hand, 305. The coltish wildness of expression.
1886. Stevenson, Silverado Sq., 67. Although as strong as a horse, he looked … only leggy, coltish.
2. transf. a. Wild, frisky, untrained. † b. Lustful, salacious, wanton. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 603. He was al coltissch, ful of ragerye.
c. 1450. Petworth MS. Chaucer, Wife’s T. 602. I had alway a Coltissh tooth.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 126. Our Asses are of themselves desirous enough of the Mares … for it is a woonderfull coltishe beast.
1581. Sidney, Astr. & Stella, xxi. But if he tame Such coltish yeeres.
1625. Shirley, Love Tricks, III. v. A parson’s wife that was coltish once.
1782. Cowper, Progr. Err., 360. Man’s coltish disposition asks the thong.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., cxi. The churl in spirit … Will let his coltish nature break At seasons thro’ the gilded pale.
Hence Coltishly adv., Coltishness.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 74. Discipline … is as it were a bridle, wherwith they may be holden backe … which coltishly resist against Christ.
1587. T. Hughes, etc. Misfort. of Arth., II. iv. Cho., Yet Pegasus … coltishly doth kick the cloudes in sky.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., lii. The Coltishnes of Mutinye.
