Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PET'U-LANCE, or PET'U-LAN-CY, n. [L. petulantia; Fr. petulance.]

Freakish passion; peevishness; pettishness; sauciness. Peevishness is not precisely synonymous with petulance, the former implying more permanence of a sour, fretful temper; the latter more temporary or capricious irritation. That which looked like pride in some, and petulance for others. – Clarendon. The pride and petulance of youth. – Watts.