cross-grained

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cross-grained
    adj 1: difficult to deal with [syn: {contrarious}, {cross-
           grained}]
    2: of timber; having fibers running irregularly rather than in
       parallel [syn: {curly-grained}, {cross-grained}, {wavy-
       grained}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Crossgrained \Cross"grained\ (-gr?nd`), a.
   1. Having the grain or fibers run diagonally, or more or less
      transversely and irregularly, so as to interfere with
      splitting or planing.
      [1913 Webster]

            If the stuff proves crossgrained, . . . then you
            must turn your stuff to plane it the contrary way.
                                                  --Moxon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Perverse; untractable; contrary; difficult to deal with.

   Syn: balky, contrarious.
        [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

              She was none of your crossgrained, termagant,
              scolding jades.                     --Arbuthnot.
        [1913 Webster]