Crossgrained

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Crossgrained \Cross"grained\ (-gr?nd`), a.
     1. Having the grain or fibers run diagonally, or more or less
        transversely and irregularly, so as to interfere with
        splitting or planing.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              If the stuff proves crossgrained, . . . then you
              must turn your stuff to plane it the contrary way.
                                                    --Moxon.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Perverse; untractable; contrary; difficult to deal with.
  
     Syn: balky, contrarious.
          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
                She was none of your crossgrained, termagant,
                scolding jades.                     --Arbuthnot.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cross-grained
       adj 1: difficult to deal with [syn: {contrarious}]
       2: of timber; having fibers running irregularly rather than in
          parallel