[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. That wrangles, quarrels or disputes; engaged or embroiled in, given or addicted to, noisy altercation or dispute; contentious.
1487. Cely Papers (Camden), 261. Hys atorney ys a wranglyng felow, he wold non odyr mony but nemyng grotes.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, ii. 40. Thow manytycore, ye marmoset,… Wranglynge, waywyrde, wylles, wraw, and nothyng meke.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, V. 100. Mars is a wrangling craking wretche.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VII. xxxiv. The third Hæreticus, a wrangling carle.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. xxxi. (1674), 36. It might serve … for a Lesson to wrangling Courtiers.
1718. Pope, Lett. to Caryll, 18 Jan. The unrighteous labours of wrangling statesmen, and the quarrelsome ones of uncharitable divines.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 39. After the death of poor wrangling Dennis.
1820. Wordsw., ‘Dogmatic Teachers,’ 2. Ye wrangling Schoolmen, of the scarlet hood!
1825. Scott, Betrothed, Concl. For wrangling curs will fight over a banquet as fiercely as over a bare bone.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. v. 112. The wrangling nobles of Philistia.
transf. and fig. 1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Dd iv. A wrangling tongue is the best language thou hast.
a. 1721. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), I. 15. Thy happy stroke can into softness bring Reason, that rough and wrangling thing.
1898. Meredith, Odes Fr. Hist., Revolution, xiii. And he, the bright day’s husband,… Beheld a wrangling heart, as ’twere her soul On eddies of wild waters cast.
1899. Swinburne, Rosamund, I. 18. Let no wrangling breath distune the peace That shines … about us.
b. Noisy; clamorous; also transf., jangling.
1608. Machin, Dumb Knt., III. E 3 b. When the sad nurse to still the wrangling babe, Shall sing the carefull story of my death.
1845. Longf., Belfry of Bruges, Carillon, ii. When the wrangling bells had ended.
1856. Mrs. Gore, Life’s Lessons, II. 227. Her remote Dale, with its wrangling beck.
1891. Athenæum, 15 Aug., 214/1. So has it fared with the marshlands … with their wrangling sea-fowl.
2. Of the nature of wrangling: contentious, noisy, clamorous.
1551. Gardner, Explic. Christ’s Presence, 43. Wherof this auctor may not thinke nowe as vpon a wranglyng argument, to satisfie a coniecture diuised.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. vi. § 6. To finde him busie in wrangling altercation.
1641. Milton, Animadv., 57. Because hee may not as a Judge sit out the wrangling noyse of litigious Courts.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xix. This wrangling piece of Learning.
1722. Horrobin, in Keble, Life Bp. Wilson (1863), 507. The wrangling, jangling disputes about the Divinity of our Saviour.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment. (1811), 216. Some wrangling dispute or other that shall sour the whole company.
3. Marked or characterized by noisy or contentious disputation or altercation.
1576. Whetstone, Rock of Regard, I. 97. A wrangling hate, where once was passing loue.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., II. iv. 55. Accursed, and vnquiet wrangling dayes.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 251. Our wrangling humour and desire to be cavilling about questions disputable.
1628. May, Virg. Georg., II. 61. He sees no wrangling courts, no lawes undone By sword.
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Destinie, iii. Thou neither great at Court,… Nor at th’ Exchange shalt be, nor at the wrangling Bar.
1715. Pope, Iliad, II. 307. Peace, factious monster, born to vex the state, With wrangling talents form’d for foul debate.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scald Hunt., xxxiv. 262. It is hard to behold the worshipped men of our wrangling days become degraded under modern light.
1883. Whitelaw, Sophocles, Antigone, 111. At call of Polyneices, stirred By bitter heat of wrangling claims, Against our land they gathered.
Hence Wranglingly adv.
1611. Cotgr., Tempestativement,… contentiously, seditiously, wranglingly.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 65. We should … discourse of it not … Wranglingly and Contentiously,… but Cordially and Spiritually.
