In common usage in the last 20 years (in North America at least) "curmudgeon" has generally been taken to mean a crusty, cantankerous man, usually an older man (50's and on up from there), who is somewhat abrasive and argumentative, but still basically loveable.

TV sitcoms almost always had at least one curmudgeon in them, who drove much of the humour on the show. Archie Bunker was, in a sense, an extreme curmudgeon, but he's not typical of the genre, being too "political".

Maude was a great example of a female curmudgeon, and the really OLD gal on the same show, even more so.

They're crabby, argumentative, perfectionist, demanding, unreasonable, and irascible. And they're supposed to be lovable? Yuck. In real life they are about as lovable as a canker on your tongue or a boil on your buttocks.

Usually. I grant there may be some exceptions.

I was once referred to as a curmudgeon by a woman I know, because of some articles I wrote for the local paper in Orillia...

Okay, that's her opinion. I should've written one about her.

- LH