a. Forms: α. 4–5 testif, -yf, 5 teestif, 6–7 testive. β. 5 testi, 6–7 -ie, 6– testy. γ. 6–7 teastie, 6–7 (9 dial.) teasty (7 teisty). [a. AF. testif, -ive (cf. OF. testu heady, headstrong, obstinate, mod.F. têtu), f. teste head. For the reduction to -ie, -y see -IVE, par. 3.]
† 1. Of headstrong courage; impetuous; precipitate, rash; in later use (passing into the next sense), Aggressive, contentious. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 802. This Diomede … Was … Hardy, testyf, strong and cheualrous. Ibid. (c. 1386), Reeve’s T., 84. Clerkes two … Testif [v.rr. testyf, teestif] they were and lusty for to pleye.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 4613. Hasty, testif, to smyte rek[e]les.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. vii. 17. That he be not testyf, hastyf, hoot, ne angry.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570), G iij. If any testie foes … Assayle thee.
1611. Cotgr., Testu,… testie, headie, headstrong, wilfull, obstinate.
1658. Phillips, Testif (old word) wild-brained, furious.
2. Prone to be irritated by small checks and annoyances; impatient of being thwarted; resentful of contradiction or opposition; irascible, short-tempered, peevish, tetchy, ‘crusty.’
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 106 b. Whiche wyll suffre his pacyent though he be neuer so testy or angry.
1530. Palsgr., 327/1. Testy angrye … ireux … testu. Ibid., 777/2. I waxe testy, Ie deuiens testyf, or testu.
1549. Chaloner, Erasm. on Folly, K j. Some men there be so waywarde of nature, and so testiue.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXXIX. v. 1025. A chollericke and testie Consull.
a. 1713. Ellwood, Autobiog. (1714), 70. This made the Warden hot and testy, and put him almost out of all Patience.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, ii. A testy old huntsman as hot as a pepper-corn.
1887. Spectator, 27 Aug., 1147. Folks less intractable and testy than such prejudiced disputants.
b. Of words, actions, personal qualities, etc.
1538. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 128. How can your testie wordes … delite me?
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., IV. iii. 46. Must I stand and crouch Vnder your Testie Humour?
1637. Heywood, Dial., Wks. 1874, VI. 329. We a mistresse feare, And from her teasty fingers blowes oft beare.
1806. Sir C. Bell, Anat. & Phil. Expression (1872), 172. The testy, pettish, peevish countenance.
1858. Lytton, What will he do, I. viii. He resumed his pipe with a prolonged and testy whiff.
1891. M. E. Braddon, Gerard, I. iii. 40. Jermyn put his arm through Hillersdon’s, wheeled him round in the direction of Long-acre, and quietly led him away. That was his answer to Hillersdon’s testy speech.
† c. Of a stream, current, etc.: ‘Angry.’ Obs.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 697. It is made more fell and teasty with a number of stones lying in his chanell.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Charmed Sea, i. You will not cross the testy sea to-night.
