Fractious, a.
Etymology: [Cf. Prov. E. frack forward, eager, E. freak, fridge; or Prov. E. fratch to squabble, quarrel.]
Apt to break out into a passion; apt to scold; cross; snappish; ugly; unruly; as, a fractious man; a fractious horse.
Syn. -- Snappish; peevish; waspish; cross; irritable; perverse; pettish. -- Frac"tious*ly, v. -- Frac"tious*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for fractious; he lists it under perverse, restive.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.