www.alphadictionary.com

highly individual and eccentric (perverse) opinion or preference; a peculiar trick or device

Based on Mariam-Webster n OED

Found this in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Gold Bug"

Thus we have crotchety people! I wonder if this relates to people, most often women, who crochet? (Croshay)

Thus we have crotchety people! I wonder if this relates to people, most often women, who crochet? (Croshay)

Yes.

I'd never heard this used in any context except a musical note - this is what the rest of the English speaking world (to the best of my knowledge) would call what the US knows as a 'quarter note'. I believe this is due to the 'hook' aspect of the rendering of the note.

We do have crotchety as an adjective of course.

This word has never come to my attention before - similar words, but not this one. Once in a great while I learn something. Eight notes have hooks on their tops, not quarter notes. This is like a hemidemisemiquaver, but with fewer hooks.

Eighth notes have hooks on their tops, not quarter notes.

The quarter note (crotchet) developed from the medieval semiminima, which in its original (14th century) version had a hook:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensural_notation

The French word croche means an eighth note (quaver).

Audiendus:
Thanks for the reference. Learning contemporary music theory was a challenge for me. I haven't gotten to much of the history. Some of this reference makes a good start.