Petulance \Pet"u*lance\, Petulancy \Pet"u*lan*cy\, n. [L. petulania: cf. F. p['e]tulance. See {Petulant}.] The quality or state of being petulant; temporary peevishness; pettishness; capricious ill humor. ``The petulancy of our words.'' --B. Jonson.
Like pride in some, and like petulance in others. --Clarendon.
The lowering eye, the petulance, the frown. --Cowper.
Syn: {Petulance}, {Peevishness}. -- Peevishness implies the permanence of a sour, fretful temper; petulance implies temporary or capricious irritation.