Crotchety

Meaning bad-tempered dates from the early 19th century and derives from the word crotchet which dates from the 1400s and is a diminutive of the French croche meaning a hook or hooked instrument from which we derive crochet, a style of embroidery done with a hooked needle. By the 1500s, crotchet was being used figuratively to denote a whim or quirk contrary to normality and from this eventually evolved into today’s meaning of crotchety i.e. abnormal, antisocial moods or behaviour. In this regard, its etymological journey is very similar to the word crank.