stiff-necked
adjEtymology From stiff + neck + -ed. (figurative): Calque of Hebrew קשה ערף (Exodus 33). A biblical term similar to Swedish styvnackad, Ancient Greek σκληροτράχηλος (sklērotrákhēlos), Russian жестоковыйный (žestokovyjnyj), German halsstarrig etc.
1
Literally Having a stiff neck; suffering from torticollis
2
Figuratively Stubborn and arrogant.
- For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 33:5:
- Derived terms
- stiff-neckedly, stiff-neckedness