feisty

1896, American, feist (“small, aggressive dog”) +‎ -y;[1] the term feist (now rare) itself originally meant “stink”, and earlier “fart”, from Middle English, from Old English, from Proto-Germanic, presumably from Proto-Indo-European – see feist for details.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfaɪsti/
• Rhymes: -aɪsti

feisty (comparative feistier or more feisty, superlative feistiest or most feisty)

1. Tenacious, energetic, spunky.
2. Belligerent; prepared to stand and fight, especially in spite of relatively small stature or some other disadvantage.
3. Easily offended and ready to bicker.

• feistily
• feistiness