nors

surly, sulky

Frequency

23k
Etymology

In summary

From Middle Dutch nors, norts (“surly”), with further origin disputed. Possibly from nort (“north”) + -s (equivalent to modern noord + -s), due to the north being associated with negative character traits. If so, a doublet of noords. Or, less likely, from the sparsely attested verb norren (“to grumble”).

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