termagant

n. [ OE. Trivigant, Termagant, Termagant (in sense 1), OF. Tervagan; cf. It. Trivigante. ] 1. An imaginary being supposed by the Christians to be a Moslem deity or false god. He is represented in the ancient moralities, farces, and puppet shows as extremely vociferous and tumultous. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. “And oftentimes by Termagant and Mahound [ Mahomet ] swore.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lesser part on Christ believed well,
On Termagant the more, and on Mahound. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; -- formerly applied to both sexes, now only to women. [ 1913 Webster ]

This terrible termagant, this Nero, this Pharaoh. Bale (1543). [ 1913 Webster ]

The slave of an imperious and reckless termagant. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]