"apt to quarrel," 1725, from fraction in an obsolete sense of "a brawling, discord" (c. 1500) + -ous; probably on model of captious. Related: Fractiously; fractiousness.
a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness
rockets were much too fractious to be tested near thickly populated areas
fractious components of a communication system
fracas
fracking
fractal
fraction
fractional
fractious
fracture
frag
fragile
fragility
fragment
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