2026-07-28 13:24 UTC
Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:
Carnaptious
(Also: "curnoptious")
"Carnaptious" is an adjective meaning "irritable", "cranky," "bad-tempered".
Its origins are unclear but the Oxford English Dictionary suggest that it could be a form of English ‘captious’ which has a similar meaning and gives its roots as Scottish and Irish dialect. OED also has the earliest attestation from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology of 1858: “A nivver seen wan so curnaptious.”
#ireland #slang #language
Replies (1)
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@Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie 2026-07-28 13:24
Another possible origin: the "nap" in carnaptious derives from Scots nap or knap, in the sense 'to snap or bite'. Carnaptious is also thought to include the intensifying prefix "car" which may derive from Scottish Gaelic, and is also found in words like carfuffle. Example of use: "A real carnaptious fellow he is if you rise him (make him angry)". #ireland #slang #language