crosspatch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicInformal, Humorous, Old-fashioned
Quick answer
What does “crosspatch” mean?
A bad-tempered, irritable, or habitually grumpy person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bad-tempered, irritable, or habitually grumpy person.
Someone who is easily annoyed and complains frequently, often seen as disagreeable or cantankerous. The term often implies a chronic state of irritability rather than a temporary mood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English but very rare in both. In American English, it might be perceived as quaint or literary.
Connotations
Both varieties carry a connotation of mild, humorous criticism rather than serious insult. It can sound affectionate or teasing in context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern corpora. Mostly found in older texts, dialect writing, or used self-consciously for humorous effect.
Grammar
How to Use “crosspatch” in a Sentence
NP be a crosspatchNP act like a crosspatchVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crosspatch” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's been in a right crosspatch mood all morning.
American English
- She gave a crosspatch reply before her coffee.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Rarely used; if used, it's in informal, familiar, often familial contexts.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crosspatch”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crosspatch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crosspatch”
- Spelling as 'cross-patch' (hyphenated form is archaic).
- Confusing it with 'criss-cross'.
- Using it in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a mild, often humorous criticism, not a severe insult. It suggests irritability more than malice.
Yes, it is gender-neutral, though historically it may have been applied slightly more to women in some contexts (e.g., 'an old crosspatch').
It is very rare in modern speech and writing. It sounds old-fashioned and is used mostly for deliberate humorous or literary effect.
It dates to the late 17th century from 'cross' (ill-tempered) + 'patch' (a fool, clown, or character; later a person).
A bad-tempered, irritable, or habitually grumpy person.
Crosspatch is usually informal, humorous, old-fashioned in register.
Crosspatch: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒspætʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔːspætʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't be such a crosspatch!”
- “He's got out of bed on the wrong side and turned into a right crosspatch.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PATCHwork quilt where every patch has a CROSS (X) face sewn onto it – a quilt made of bad-tempered faces.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A PATCH OF BAD TERRAIN (a 'patch' of crossness).
Practice
Quiz
In which situation might you jokingly call someone a 'crosspatch'?