Obs. [f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. Rudeness, roughness, lack of polish, want of gentleness or courtesy.
c. 1450[?]. Chaucer’s Dreme, 64. Of your gentilnesse I you requyre my boistousnesse Ye let passe, as thing rude.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W.), 110. Ungentylnesse or buystousnesse.
2. Coarseness, grossness, stiffness.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xxii. Þe whiche mete for his þiknesse and boystousnesse may not passe þe narow weyes … wiþ oute helpe of moysture of drynke.
1530. Palsgr., 199/1. Boystuousnesse, roydevr.
3. Violence, boisterousness.
1530. Palsgr., 200. Boustuousnesse, impetuosite.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xiv. 30 (R.). The boysteousnes of the winde.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps., xxv. 17. Temptacions now and then cast us downe with their boustousnesse.
