a. [ad. L. truculentus, f. trux (truc-em) fierce, savage; cf. obs. F. truculent (Cotgr., 1611).]

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  1.  Characterized by or exhibiting ferocity or cruelty; fierce, cruel, savage, barbarous.

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c. 1540.  trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), I. 105. Havinge attained libertie, [Britain] entered into moste truculent warrs.

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1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 10. His aspect and countenance was fierce, truculent, and fearful. Ibid., 254. Many Horses by their seed and stones are made very fierce, truculent, and unruly.

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1670.  Baxter, Cure Ch.-Div., 4. It is the character of a truculent people … that they regard not the person of the old.

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1722.  Wollaston, Relig. Nat., vi. 141. Convulsed and agonizing under the knife of some truculent villain.

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1889.  Jessopp, Coming of Friars, i. 4. The truculent ruffianism that pretended to be animated by the crusading spirit.

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  b.  Of speech or writing: Violent; rude; scathing; savage; harsh.

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1850.  Marsden, Early Purit. (1853), 204. Pamphlets … scarcely less truculent or less contemptuous of the Christian virtues.

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1868.  Milman, St. Paul’s, xvii. 416. The broader and more truculent satire of Ulrich Hutten.

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1872.  Morley, Voltaire, iii. (ed. 2), 120. Voltaire is never either gross or truculent.

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  † c.  transf. Of a disease: Destructive; deadly. Obs. rare.

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1665.  G. Harvey, Advice agst. Plague, x. More or less truculent Plagues.

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  ¶ 2.  (In catachrestic use, associated with TRUCK sb.1, v.1, TRUCKLE v.) Mean, base, mercenary.

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1825.  Bentham, Ration. Rew., 62. A truculent exchange not only of truth, but of sincerity, for money.

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1884.  J. T. Davidson, Talks Yng. Men, viii. 194 The mean dastard [Ahab] sent back the truculent reply: ‘My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.’

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  3.  Comb., as truculent-looking.

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1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xvii. This ungainly and truculent-looking savage.

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1866.  Howells, Venet. Life, viii. That truculent-looking craft.

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  So † Truculental a. Obs. rare–1.

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1593.  G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., ***j. A glorious, and brauing Knight, That would be deem’d a truculental wight.

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