Termagant vs. Virago — What's the Difference?

In the Middle Ages, Termagant or Tervagant was the name given to a god which European Christians believed Muslims worshipped.The word is also used in modern English to mean a violent, overbearing, turbulent, brawling, quarrelsome woman; a virago, shrew, vixen. In the past, the word could be applied to any person or thing personified, not just a woman.

A virago is a woman who demonstrates exemplary and heroic qualities. The word comes from the Latin word virāgō (genitive virāginis) meaning vigorous' from vir meaning "man" or "man-like" (cf.

A woman regarded as quarrelsome or scolding; a shrew.

A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering.

Shrewish; scolding.

A large, strong, courageous woman.

A quarrelsome, scolding woman, especially one who is old and shrewish.

A woman given to undue belligerence or ill manner at the slightest provocation.

(obsolete) A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person, whether male or female.

A woman who is scolding, domineering, or highly opinionated.

Quarrelsome and scolding or censorious; shrewish.

A woman who is rough, loud, and aggressive.

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.

A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior.

A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; - formerly applied to both sexes, now only to women.

Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a vixen.

Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome; scolding.

A noisy or scolding or domineering woman

A scolding nagging bad-tempered woman

A large strong and aggressive woman