Calcitrant
/ˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/noun
Stubbornly resisting authority, control, or guidance.
Did you know?Calcitrant comes from Latin calcitrāre, “to kick,” from calx, “heel,” so its original image is not just resistance but a physical act of striking back with the heel.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
calcitrāre
“to kick with the heel; to resist”
Latin
Latin
calx
“heel”
Late Latin
Latin
calcitrāns
“kicking; kicking back”
17th Century
English
calcitrant
“kicking back; stubbornly resisting”
Modern English
English
calcitrant
“stubbornly refusing to obey or cooperate”
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