Cantankerous

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  1. Chris Mills:

    maybe a combination of “contentious” and “rancorous?” รก la the Partridge explanation for “smear” and “balm” to get “smalm.”

    btw, is there a word for such conflated constructions? if not, I suggest “confluction.” :-)

  2. Louise Hope:

    Portmanteau word. You want to argue with Lewis Carroll?

  3. Jonathan Kolker:

    Perhaps the word has something to do with cant?

  4. Besalel:

    Maybe from the Hebrew word lenaker as used to described the people of the galilee in talmud nedarim 48a “Anshei Galil Kanteranim Hayu” which means the people of the galilee were cantankerous.