termagant
/ˈtəːməɡ(ə)nt
/noun
1A harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.Your highness, sorry about the shrieking termagant!...
- He rolled his eyes at his mother, who was practically puffing up in indignation for the termagant who had all but threw him out of her home after the argument they had about the engagement.
- Rourke was sure he would not want to face the termagant anytime soon.
2 (Termagant) historical An imaginary deity of violent and turbulent character, often appearing in morality plays.
Origin
Middle English (in sense 2): via Old French from Italian Trivagante, taken to be from Latin tri- 'three' + vagant- 'wandering', and to refer to the moon ‘wandering’ between heaven, earth, and hell under the three names Selene, Artemis, and Persephone.