adjective
rare, literary, archaicInclined to butt, butting; (figurative) wanton, frisky.
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in John V. Canes (d. 1672). From classical Latin petulcus inclined to butt, butting, wanton, frisky (from petere to aim at, assail + -ulcus, suffix forming adjectives, also seen in hiulcus) + -ous.
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