\Ter"ma*gant\, n. [OE. Trivigant, Termagant, Termagant
(in sense 1), OF. Tervagan; cf. It. Trivigante.]
1. An imaginary being supposed by the Christians to be a
   Mohammedan 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.
         The lesser part on Christ believed well, On
         Termagant the more, and on Mahound.   --Fairfax.
2. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; -- formerly
   applied to both sexes, now only to women.
         This terrible termagant, this Nero, this Pharaoh.
                                               --Bale (1543).
         The slave of an imperious and reckless termagant.
                                               --Macaulay.

\Ter"ma*gant\, a.
Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome;
scolding. -- {Ter"ma*gant*ly}, adv.
      A termagant, imperious, prodigal, profligate wench.
                                               --Arbuthnot.