General
ornery
What does ornery mean?
Describes someone or something disagreeable, mean-spirited, or grouchy—often with a playful edge. Strongly associated with Appalachia and the rural South.
"That ornery old mule won't budge for love nor money."
Origin
An 1816 American dialectal contraction of "ordinary"; the sense drifted from "common/inferior" to "lazy" to "cantankerous" by the late 1800s.
Frequently asked questions
What does ornery mean?
Ornery describes someone or something stubborn, cantankerous, or ill-tempered, often with a playful edge, especially in Appalachian and rural Southern speech.
Where does ornery come from?
It's an 1816 American dialectal contraction of 'ordinary,' whose meaning drifted from 'common' to 'lazy' to 'cantankerous' by the late 1800s.
Is ornery always negative?
Not entirely. It usually means grouchy or difficult, but it often carries an affectionate, teasing tone.
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