mannish

Adjective

mannish (comparative more mannish, superlative most mannish)

1. Resembling or characteristic of a man, masculine.
   • A woman impudent and mannish grown
     Is not more loathed than an effeminate man
     In time of action.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
   • She detested the look of herself in large goggles, detested being forced to tie on her hat, detested the heavy, mannish coat of rough tweed that Sir Philip insisted she must wear when motoring.1928, Radclyffe Hall, chapter 7, in The Well of Loneliness, London: Jonathan Cape, →OCLC; republished New York, N.Y.: Covici Friede Publishers, October 1932, →OCLC, book 1, section 1, page 68

   Synonyms:

   butch, masculine, unladylike

2. Resembling or characteristic of a grown man (as opposed to a boy); mature, adult.
   • And let us, Polydore, though now our voices
     Have got the mannish crack, sing him to the ground,1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard...
   • And so, with an air of mannish superiority, he seems rather to pity the bashful girl, than to apprehend that he shall not succeed.1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter VIII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   manly, grown up

3. (Caribbean, Guyana) Impertinent; assertive.
   • “They could have saved his life because he was still living, one woman said when she told the police that the boy was alive he said leave him to die, he’s wanted,” Giddings cried, adding that “I know he bad, he mannish, he does misbehave but I never know he was wanted… how can they make the claim...2014, Kurt Campbell, “Police left 15-year-old to die — Relatives,” inewsguyana.com, 11 March, 2014
4. (Caribbean, African-American Vernacular) Precocious.
5. (archaic) Resembling or characteristic of a human being, in form or nature; human.
   • The Westron was a Mannish speech, though enriched and softened under Elvish influence.1955, JRR Tolkien, The Return of the King