Dictionary entry

Curmudgeon

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Cur‐mudg″eon (k?r–m?j″?n), n. [OE. cornmudgin, where -mudgin is prob. from OF. muchier, mucier, F. musser to hide; of uncertain origin; cf. OE. muchares skulking thieves, E. miche, micher.] An avaricious, grasping fellow; a miser; a niggard; a churl.

A gray-headed curmudgeon of a negro.

W. Irving.