Lewis & Short

pĕtŭlantĭa, ae, f. [petulans].

  1. I. Lit., sauciness, freakishness, impudence, wantonness, petulance (class.; syn. lascivia): itaque a petendo petulantia, a procando, id est poscendo, procacitas nominata est, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 23, 18: petulantia et libido magis est adulescentium quam senum, id. Sen. 11, 36: petulantia et audacia, id. Caecin. 35, 103; cf.: te non ulla meae laesit petulantia linguae, Prop. 1, 16, 37.
    In plur.: Naevius … cum ob assiduam maledicentiam et probra in principes civitatis … in vincula conjectus esset … in his fabulis, delicta sua et petulantias dictorum, quibus multos ante laeserat, diluisset, insolent language, libels, Gell. 3, 3, 15.
    1. B. In a milder sense, carelessness, heedlessness (ante-class.): linguae, Suet. Tib. 61; Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 3.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Of animals, viciousness: cornuti fere perniciosi sunt propter petulantiam, Col. 7, 6, 4.
    2. B. Of things, exuberance, luxuriance: ramorum, Plin. 16, 30, 53, § 124: morbi, violence, Gell. 12, 5, 9.