Definition of "heartburning"

[N]ecessity may abolish any law, but cannot alter the sentiments of the vulgar; right of inheritance being perhaps the most popular of all topicks; and therefore in great changes, when that is broke, there will remain much heart-burning and discontent among the meaner people; which (under a weak prince and corrupt administration) may have the worst consequences upon the peace of any state.

1721 January 21 (Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Letters between Dr. Swift and Mr. [Alexander] Pope […]] Dr. Swift to Mr. Pope”, in Thomas Sheridan and John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XIV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, page 20

[John] Winthrop, acting with the concurrence of Wilson, whom the delicacy of his position compelled to reserve, with difficulty succeeded in parrying the blow. But the transaction did not fail to leave heart-burnings.

1858, John Gorham Palfrey, chapter XII, in History of New England during the Stuart Dynasty. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown, and Company, book I, page 475

Such speeds are called for on a schedule of this sort, and the unconventional appearance was justified and necessary; but it caused many heartburnings, particularly amongst the older generation, from an aesthetic point of view.

1950 October, H. C. Casserley, “Locomotive Cavalcade, 1920-1950—4”, in Railway Magazine, page 657

Hee sett Promethius, on a merrye pynn, / Whoe dranke soe devillishly, that there he gott / A terrible heartburninge, […]

c. 1631–1633 (first performance), [John Clavell], edited by John Henry Pyle Pafford and W[alter] W[ilson] Greg, The Soddered Citizen (The Malone Society Reprints; 82), London: […] [F]or the Malone Society by John Johnson at the Oxford University Press, published 1936, Act II, scene v, folio 14a, page 45, lines 1030–1032