1. Having numerous, large, or prominent teeth (in quot. 1881 connoting ‘devouring, ravenous’).
1530. Palsgr., 327/2. Toothye as one that hath great tethe or plenty of tethe, denteux.
1799. Corse, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIX. 208, note. Dauntelah signifies toothy; having large or fine teeth.
1881. F. G. Lee, Reg. Baront., II. iv. Toothy wolves in lambswool.
2. Furnished with or full of teeth or tooth-like projections; toothed.
1611. Cotgr., Dentelé,… toothed, toothie; full of iags resembling little teeth.
1705. J. Petiver, in Phil. Trans., XXV. 1960. Its [a shell’s] Toothy part is finely variegated with red and black.
a. 1770. Smart, Hop-Gard., II. Poems (1810), 41/1. Next expand The smoothest surface with the toothy rake.
3. fig. ‘Biting,’ ill-natured, peevish. (Cf. TEETHY a.1) north. dial. and Sc.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, Toothy, peevish, crabbed.
1787. Burns, Willie’s Awa, vi. Toothy critics by the score, In bloody raw!
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., xxiv. ‘I suspect that’s your case…,’ retorted Miss P., in a very toothy manner.
4. Toothsome, palatable. rare.
1864. Athenæum, 8 Oct., 456/2. A most toothy meal I had of it!
1889. Alien. & Neurol., July, 459. Meat or game, which is at first tough, becomes more tender and toothy.
