touchous

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English touch

Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed-

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.?

Proto-Italic *-ō̆tsos?

Old Latin -ōssus

Latin -ōsus

Old French -usbor.

Middle English -ous

English -ous

English touchous

From touch + -ous.

Adjective

touchous (comparative more touchous, superlative most touchous)

1. (rare, US, regional, chiefly Southern) Touchy; overly sensitive.

   Don't be so touchous about everything!

   • 1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC:

     He said Atticus was still touchous about us and the Radleys and it wouldn't do to push him any.