Where Does Ornery Come from?

The word ornery first appeared in the United States after the turn of the nineteenth century as a variant of the word ordinary. In the beginning, ornery described something that was ugly or plain. By the mid-1800s the term came to mean cantankerous or ill-tempered.

Is ornery a Southern word?

You might think you already know this word, but Southerners have a special take on "ornery." Its basic definition is the same across the country: mean or cantankerous. The word originated from a dialectical evolution of “ordinary.” The main difference in the Southern usage is pronunciation.

What is the root word for ornery?

Definitely ornery. The adjective ornery sprung up in the early 19th century when people started pronouncing ordinary with an accent. The root of ordinary is the Latin word for “order,” and if you disrupt the orderly existence of an ornery person, prepare to get yelled at.