tetch·y also tech·y (těch'ē) adj.
tetch·i·er also tech·i·er, tetch·i·est also tech·i·est Peevish; testy: "As a critic gets older, he or she usually grows more tetchy and limited in responses"(James Wolcott).
[Probably from Middle English tache, teche, blemish (influenced by touchy), from Old French tache, teche, from Vulgar Latin *tacca, from Gothic taikns, sign; see deik- in Indo-European roots.] tetch'i·ly adv., tetch'i·ness n.
"easily irritated," 1592, teachie, in "Romeo & Juliet" I.iii.32; of uncertain origin. Perhaps from M.E. tatch "a mark, quality," derived via O.Fr. from V.L. *tecca, from a Gmc. source akin to O.E. tacen (see token).