E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Curmud’geon (3 syl.).
A grasping, miserly churl. Dr. Johnson gives the derivation of this word thus, “cœur mechant, unknown correspondent.” Dr. Ash, in his dictionary, says, “cœur, unknown; mechant, correspondent,” a blunder only paralleled by the schoolboy translation of the Greek, me genoito, by (God) εoo (forbid) (Luke xx. 6).
(God) 
ε
o
o (forbid) (Luke xx. 6).
