a. Obs. Forms: 5 querelous(e, quarelouse, 6 quaril-, quarel(l)-, 6–7 quarrel-, 6–7 quarrellous. [a. OF. querelous (F. querelleux): see QUARREL sb.3 and -OUS. In later use perh. a new formation.] a. Given to complaining; querulous. b. Quarrelsome, contentious; fault-finding. (In common use from about 1560 to 1650.)
c. 1400. Beryn, 2070. They were so querelouse of al myȝt com in mynde Thouȝe it were nevir indede I-do.
c. 1475. Lerne or be Lewde, in Babees Bk., 10. [Be not] To Queynt, to Querelous, and Queme welle thy maistre.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxii. 80. Grete wepypges and quarellouse plaintes.
1556. Abp. Parker, Ps. xxxiv. 84. To scape theyr foes so quarilous.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. Brownists, 83. His Maiesties speech … might haue staied the course of your quarrelous pen.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., II. (1677), 66. This Gentleman had been in former times very quarrellous and turbulent.
a. 1656. Hales, Gold. Rem. (1688), 113. This quarrellous and fighting humour.
Hence † Quarrellously adv.
1580. A. Munday, in John a Kent, etc. (Shaks. Soc.), 78. Everie desperate Dick that can … behave him selfe so quarrelously.
