Forms: 3–4 stute, 3–7 stoute, 4 stut, 4–7 stowt(e, 5 Sc. stult, 5–6 stought, 7 stoutt, 4– stout. [a. OF. estout (NE. dial. stout), earlier estolt, estult, brave, fierce, proud; of Teut. origin: cf. OFris. stult proud, MLG. stolt stately, proud, (M)Du. stout proud, OHG., MHG., mod.G. stolz proud (in MHG. also foolish):—WGer. *stulta-. The ON. stollz is from HG., and the later ON. stolt-r (= MSw. stolt-er, Sw., Da. stolt) from LG.
According to some scholars the WGer. word is an adoption (with remarkable development of meaning) of L. stultus foolish. Others regard it as native Teut., from *stult ablaut-var. of *stelt- (? to walk stiffly): see STILT sb.]
A. adj. I. Proud, fierce, brave, resolute.
† 1. Proud, haughty, arrogant. Often coupled with proud. To make it stout: to swagger. Obs.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, vii. 410. Alle by weren ydryuen out, Wyþ lucyfer þat was so stout.
c. 1330. Spec. Gy de Warw., 623. Ac þu, fersse man, þat art so stout, And heih of mod, and herte proud.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6158. I mene of fals Religious, That stoute ben, and malicious [Fr. des felons, des malicieus].
c. 1400. Brut, 2. Albyne bycome so stoute & so sterne, þat sche told litel prys of her lord.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 1825. Thai made it both stoute and gay.
c. 1421. 26 Pol. Poems, xxi. 73. How of hem han hertis stoute Þat reweþ non pore þat han penaunce.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 24. Whan þou art in þat estate,… þanne wexist þou stowt & fell, and puttyst out þi venym of pride.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. x. 12. The noble and stoute Kynge of Assiria.
1552. Huloet, Stowt, superbus, superciliosus.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. v. (1912), 32. A man mightie in riches & power, and proude thereof, stubbornly stout.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 187. As stout and proud as he were Lord of all.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., III. (1636), 22. If he be stout and proud, he is not of God.
1656. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 177. Can we once conceive of him as purposely washing … his servants feet, and yet be stout and Lordly still?
1669. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 452. If we are as high and as stout as they, I am confident we shall bring them a pin lower.
a. 1803. [see PROUD-HEARTED].
1851. Sternberg, Northampt. Gloss., Stout, proud.
† b. Stately, magnificent, splendid. Obs.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xvi. 52. Heo is dereworthe in day, Graciouse, stout, ant gay.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 935. If þou has oþer lygynges stoute, Now tech me to þat myry mote.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 12, note. Of reed gold so ryche redilyche I-dyȝte Wiþ preciouse stoones so stoute stondynge þer-ynne.
a. 1400. Launfal, 985. Up stod the quene and ladyes stoute.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, xxv. 537. I that was full stoute and gay, ffull horyble am now opon to se.
1430–50. Erthe upon Erthe, iv. 25. Why scholde erthe a-pon erthe goo stowte and gay?
† 2. Fierce, furious. Obs.
c. 1300. Beket, 512. Sire Hughe Eorl of Chestre, and Eorl Williem of Ferers, Were at this parlement, stout ynou and fers.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4036. He … sagh a bere wylde and stoute. Ibid. (1338), Chron. (1725), 48. Þe burgeis of London were wroþe & stoute.
c. 1421. 26 Pol. Poems, xxi. 139. Drede no tyrauntes sterne and stoute May sle þy body.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 2687. Vndyr wheche water ben there ȝet Tweyne wondirful Stowte dragowns.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. xii. 25. Emongst them was sterne Strife, and Anger stout.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. xlvi. 32. The younger Tullia, a stout dame and a proud.
† b. Formidable, menacing; terrible in appearance. Obs.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 74. Tiþynges com him fulle stoute, þat a grete oste & stark,… Were aryued in Humbere. Ibid., 115. Þise men lift þer standard, that stoute was & grim.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xix. (Christopher), 469. Þat [þa] wemane speryt has with stut vysage & auchtful spek.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 313. Hys colour was … Foule,… hys eyen gret & stoute.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 78. Quha couth behald thair awfull lordly wult, So weill beseyn, so forthwart, stern, and stult.
a. 1500. Freiris of Berwik, 196, in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 291. The gud wyfe spak than, with a visage stowt.
1601. Chester, Love’s Mart. (1878), 27. A huge Tower of brasse,… Able to bide the raging Foes stout frowne.
† c. Of pain: Severe. Obs.
c. 1425. Audelay, XI Pains of Hell, 144, in O. E. Misc., 227. Faste þei wente þis pepul a-boute, Wiþ moni turmentes grete and stoute.
3. Valiant, brave; undaunted and vigorous in conflict or resistance. Now somewhat arch. (chiefly attrib. of soldiers).
13[?]. K. Alis., 869 (Laud MS.). Nicholas of cartage Hardy man stout & sauage.
c. 1325. Lai le Freine, 249. He was stout, of gret renoun And was y-cleped Sir Guroun.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1184. Stoffed wyth-inne with stout men to stalle hem þer-oute.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 390. Thocht he wes stout and hardy,… Thar mycht na worschip thar awailȝe.
1572. Huloet (ed. Higins), Stoute or aduenturous, audaculus.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. (1595), 74. Grieue, replied the stout couragious Citizen, yea, euen I.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. x. 54. Stout Bunduca.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. iv. 19. A stouter Champion neuer handled Sword.
1595. Phrases Lat. Aldi Manutii, 106. Fortis pro salute patriæ. Stout in the quarrell, or valiant for the safeguard of his countrey.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Suspic. (Arb.), 528. They [sc. these defects] take Place in the Stoutest Natures: As in the Example of Henry the Seuenth…. There was not a more Suspicious Man, nor a more Stout.
1656. T. Stanley, Hist. Philos., V. xxix. (1687), 194. In this Sence we call all Souldiers stout, and sometimes call imprudent and rash persons stout, when we speak not of the perfect Vertues.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Westmorld. (1662), 136. That Stout Prelate who when the Scots invaded England,… utterly routed and ruined them.
1690. Locke, Educ., § 96 (1693), 114. Some Men by the unalterable Frame of their Constitutions are Stout, other Timorous.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Indies, I. xviii. 216. Cowards are generally stout when Dangers are at a Distance, and so was our General, who had never seen a Sword drawn in Anger.
1842. Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxvi. (Pelh. Libr.), 186. Legends the most wild are related of the manner in which the stout soldier fell.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 647. His arm had been … shattered in the battle; and, as no surgeon was at hand, the stout old soldier amputated it himself.
1890. Conan Doyle, White Company, xxvii. I have heard that he is a very stout and skilful soldier.
absol. c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 831. So sal ye stonay yone stowt, suppose he be strang.
† b. Hardy, strong in endurance. Obs.
1576. Woolton, Chr. Man., L vj b. We receaue fashions and condicions of our companions…. Effeminate men and softlings, cause the stoute man to waxe tender.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Gt. Brit., I. III. viii. 274. Which grievous kind of Death [Peine forte et dure] some stout Fellows have sometimes chosen.
c. Of courage, the ‘heart,’ etc.: Undismayed.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 485. Sum stalwardly steppis ben, with a stout curage.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 238 b. Thys ende had the valiant hart and stoute courage of duke Charles of Burgoyn.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. ii. 299. Yet Talgol was of Courage stout, And vanquish’d oftner than he fought.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 358. To quell the valour of the stoutest heart.
1831. Scott, Jrnl., 9 April. Their courage is much stouter than I apprehended.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. ii. A man stout of heart.
1841. Helps, Ess., II. Educ. Man Business, 79. He should be courageous…. Besides a stout heart, he should have a patient temperament.
d. Of a conflict, assault or resistance: Vigorous.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. lxxiv. 152. Our men … made with the enimies a valyant and stout skirmish.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1406/1. In a letter written … out of Spaine, in the yeare 1577, it is set downe … that the state of Christendome stood vpon the stout assailing of England.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 173. When aduerse Forreyners affright my Townes With dreadfull pompe of stout inuasion.
1812. Cary, Dante, Parad., XII. 95. He … Smote fiercest, where resistance was most stout.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. II. x. (1865), I. 109. To the last they always made stout fight for themselves.
1890. P. H. Hunter, Story of Daniel, i. 12. The Assyrian monarch offered a stout resistance.
† e. Strenuous, energetic. Obs.
1600. Holland, Livy, VI. xxxiv. 241. L. Sextius, a stout young man [L. strenuo adolescente].
c. 1610. Women Saints, 175. The lawes which Salomon prescribeth to such a stoute and paynefull woman.
1635. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 59. He performed stout service.
1661. Lowther, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, II. (1911), 118. For the incourraginge all to be active and stowte in a tyme soe necessary.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 302. They may be receiving (though not in such a passive way as it does not involve with it some stout effort of their own).
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 10 Nov. Stella is naturally a stout walker, and carries herself firm.
† 4. Of persons: Firm in resolve, unyielding, determined. Obs. exc. as in d.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 58. He … with wordes of great consolation did courage him to be stoute in the quarrell he toke in hand.
1591. Harington, Orl. Fur., Apol. Poetrie, ¶ iiij b. Bishop Fisher, a stout Prelat … was assaid by King Henrie the eight for his good will and assent for the suppression of Abbeys.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 340. Heere come my Executioners, How now my hardy stout resolued Mates, Are you now going to dispatch this thing?.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 100. She being but a girle receyued the faith of Christ, wherein she grew so feruent and stoute, that [etc.].
1631. Proverb, in J. Done, Polydoron, 44. I stout and thou stout, who shall carry the Dirt out?
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xlv. (1640), 106. Askelon was stout, and would not surrender.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 6 Dec. We reckon we have a majority of ten on our side in the House of Lords; yet I observed Mrs. Masham a little uneasy: she assures me the Queen is stout.
1720–1. Lett. fr. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), II. 235. All the several Parties among us exact that of us, which they will by no Means practise themselves. They are all stiff and stout, and maintain their several Posts resolutely.
1729. Swift, Poems, Grand Question, 55. Madam, I always believ’d you so stout, That for twenty Denials you would not give out.
1815. J. W. Croker, in C. Papers, 27 July (1884), I. 75. He was very stout about travelling all night and every night when we left Paris, and seemed only to fear my laziness or reluctance.
1815. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1838), X. 169. But if we are stout we shall save the King whose government affords the only chance for peace.
† b. In bad sense: Obstinate, intractable, stubborn, rebellious. Obs.
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Mother of God, 82. Thogh that oure hertis steerne been & stoute. Ibid. (c. 1412), De Reg. Princ., 2639. Is non so good, as lat vs mollifie Our hertes stoute to his genterie.
a. 1620. J. Dyke, Right Receiving (1640), 55. The stoutest, sturdiest, and most rebellious spirit that ever was.
1620. Quarles, Feast for Wormes, Med. xi. I 2 b. Lord … Subdue our Passions, Curb our stout Affections.
a. 1639. W. Whateley, Prototypes, I. xix. (1640), 194. If any of you have beene stoute against God Pharaoh-like, let him [etc.].
1646. Slingsby, Diary (1836), 181. Ye one being mild and tractable, ye other stout, covetous, and impatient of a companion.
1788. Wesley, Wks. (1872), VI. 301. The stout, the hard-hearted, will melt before you.
a. 1834. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., I. xvii. 260. He has to overcome that resistance from his old stout will and hardened heart.
c. Of utterances or demeanor: Resolute, defiant. arch.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 378. Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, He herde noght bot wordes stoute.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 439. On a rewde maner he salutyd all the rout, With a bold voyse, carpyng wordys stout.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. vii. There was but little meekenesse, for there was stout and hard words on both sides.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, B v. Hereupon Alexander with many stowte and dispiteful wordes, departed from his father.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 102. This stoute assertion of that impudent frier.
1611. Bible, Mal. iii. 13. Your words haue bin stout against me, saith the Lord.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., i. (1906), 17. To these and such, I oppose Marius, and that stout reply of his in Salust.
a. 1653. Binning, Common Princ. Chr. Relig., Wks. (1735), 37/2. It is not big and stout Words that will prove it.
a. 1656. Ussher, Power Princes, II. (1683), 229. In the like manner Hosius, that old Confessor, beginneth his stout, but dutiful Letter which he wrote unto him.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 11 July 1691. This stout demeanor of the few Bishops who refus’d to take the oathes.
1729. Tindal, trans. Rapin’s Hist. Eng., XVII. IX. 30. James returned a stout Answer, and vindicated himself for not having performed his Promise.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1836), VI. 207. I have a letter from the Governor of the 13th in which he holds stout language.
1868. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 54. A month after this stout despatch … Wolsey was nominated principal legate.
d. Of a partisan, an advocate, an enemy: Uncompromising.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. (1595), 37. That which … there is none (were it the stoutest enemie that euer liued) but wil most highlie commend.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Suffolk (1662), 57. Robert Grosthead … was a stout Opposer of Popish Oppression in the Land.
1835. J. W. Croker, in C. Papers, 10 March (1884), II. 267. His enemies are not very stou, and are united only on the one point of opposing him.
1850. W. Irving, Goldsmith, xxxi. 302. Johnson, who was a stout unbeliever in Rowley.
1861. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xi. 155. A claim admitted by even the stoutest advocates of the Romish Church.
1913. Times, 14 May, 7/6. When Philip the Bold … married Margaret, the heir of France’s stout enemy, Flanders.
5. a. Of a fox: Capable of long runs; enduring.
1714. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 147. Went a hunting to Sullum, and found ditto ffox…. Had a noble chace, but he proved too stout and bette us quit outt.
1878. ‘Brooksby,’ Hunting Countries, II. 195. The woodland foxes of course are stout; and they travel long distances before they die.
1894. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Dec., 10/3. A stout fox found in Owston Wood broke away on the Melton side.
b. Of a horse: Characterized by endurance or staying power: contrasted with speedy. Hence stout blood.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., V. ii. Tony. Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say.
1796. J. Lawrence, Treat. Horses, I. 196. The term stout, in equestrian language, applies invariably to the courage, not the substance of the horse.
1818. ‘W. H. Scott,’ Brit. Field Sports, 511. We have upon the Turf, two old and customary divisions of Race Horses, which according to their peculiar constitutional temperament, we classify as SPEEDY or STOUT.
1833. Q. Rev., XLIX. 387. It is worthy of remark, that in his stud, a regard is paid to what is termed stout blood. Ibid., 388. A stout horse ends his race to advantage up hill; a speedy jade down hill.
1860. Rous, in Baily’s Mag., I. 19. For the encouragement of the breed of strong stout horses.
1861. J. H. Walsh & Lupton, Horse, 75. About twenty horses have been in training, and among these he has had the luck to have one extraordinarily stout mare.
II. Physical senses.
6. Strong in body; of powerful build. ? Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 545. The Millere was a stout carl for the nones Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 244. Mars, which god of Armes was, Hath set two Oxen sterne and stoute.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 478/1. Stowt, or stronge, robustus.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 208. Our reaps are put by gatherers, women or stout boys, into sheets…. Two stout men carry these.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 481. Till the stout bearers lift the corpse again.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 297. The high wages we were obliged to give, to induce stout labourers to face the perils of the service.
1796. Jane Austen, Sense & Sens., xxxviii. They must get a stout girl of all works.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 222. He is tall, well proportioned, thin, but pretty stout for his years. Ibid. (1804), XII. 114. I forgot to mention that this woman was suckling a stout boy, twelve months old.
1822. Shelley, Goethe’s Faust, ii. 2. Would you not like a broomstick? As for me I wish I had a good stout ram to ride.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 315. This bank … will by its weight furnish such resistance to the action of the top of the tree, that a stout man, on applying himself to a rope tied to the upper part of the stem, will generally be unable to displace the root.
b. In robust health, ‘strong,’ esp. with reference to recovery from illness. Obs. exc. Sc.
1697. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 50. The Duke was not the stoutest child, and had been subject to a watry mouth, which now grew better.
1780. S. J. Pratt, Emma Corbett (ed. 4), III. 51. I cannot be more explicit till I know what present health you are in…. Tell me that you are very stout and you shall hear more.
1797. Han. More, in Visctess. Knutsford, Life & Lett. Z. Macaulay (1900), 177. He as usual overworks himself, and is not, I think, very stout, though certainly very happy.
1811. Sarah Lady Lyttelton, in Mrs. H. Wyndham, Corr. (1912), 119. All this fine weather will help poor, dear old Granny Lucan to get stout again. Ibid. (1813), 145. It being Sunday, and I feeling very stout, ventured out at noon.
1817. Maria Edgeworth, Ormond, vii. Then if you are quite stout again, I shall want you to row me across the lake.
c. 1825. Mrs. Cameron, Houlston Tracts, II. xxxiv. 4. The week afterwards, Ellen said to her husband, on Sunday morning, ‘Now, William, I am got so stout, that I think we may return to our old habits, and go to church twice a-day.’
1838. Whately, in Life (1866), I. 417. We have been two months in England for J.’s health, who is better, though far from stout.
1844. H. Heugh, in Macgill, Life, xxiv. (1852), 431. I have not felt so stout for a great while, wind and weather notwithstanding.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, viii. ‘The child is hardly,’ said Mr. Dombey, ‘as stout as I could wish.’
1884. Annie S. Swan, Carlowrie, x. 162. ‘Ye’re no’ lookin’ very stoot, Mrs. Dalrymple,’ said Miss Ritchie. ‘I doot ye’re workin’ ower sair.’
7. With reference to intensity or force. † a. Of a wind: Strong. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1981. A stithe man to the stere hade, & a stoute wynde, Were blouen to þe brode se in a bir swithe.
1533. J. Heywood, Play Wether (1903), 1089. A water-myller … sayde the wynde was so stout The rayne could not fale.
1670. Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 21. A stout gale and a great Sea.
† b. Of sound: Strong, harsh. Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xix. 3. Stent of youre steuenes stoute.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. Caoursin’s Siege of Rhodes (1870), ¶ 11. [The Turks] made thenne a stoute and horryble crye, as they haue in theyr guyse afore that they begynne to fyghte.
1545. Bale, Image Both Ch., I. i. C iiij, A loud shyrle voyce … whiche was so vehement, and stought to my iudgement, as it had bene ye noise of a great trompe.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 39. Musicke inuented by the Dorians [having] a manlye, rough and stoute sounde in it.
c. Path. Of a heart-beat: Strong.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 927. The deliberate rhythm, some forty in the minute, in which each reluctant beat, stout as it was, seemed as if it might be the last effort.
8. Of buildings, rocks, trees, etc.: Capable of defying attack; strong.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8388. The walles vp wroght on a wise faire With stones full stoute, stithest of vertue.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lxv. 7. When rocks impregnable are not so stout,… but Time decays? Ibid. (1610), Temp., V. 45. To the dread ratling Thunder Haue I giuen fire, and rifted Ioues stowt Oke With his owne Bolt.
1909. J. Sully, in Q. Rev., Oct., 455. The stout dam, with its marble bridge, stood longer.
b. Of a ship: Strongly built; capable of bearing rough weather.
1622. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1908), II. 114. Hath made us promyse to furnishe three stoutt shippes.
1685. Act 1 Jas. II., c. 18 Preamble. Where many stout Shipps were yearely built for the Coale and other Trade.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 6 Feb. 1652. I embark’d early in the packet-boat, but put my goods in a stouter vessell.
1779. F. Hervey, Nav. Hist., II. 165. A stout ship commanded by Cornelius Van Velsen blew up.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., lxviii. VI. 488. Five stout and lofty ships were guided by skilful pilots.
1868. Rep. to Govt. U.S. Munitions War, 206. We must be content with … a stout fighting ship, to the exclusion of a fast-sailing one.
c. Of a machine: Durably constructed, strong.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3819/8. Stout, able, Water Corn-Mills to be Sold, well customed, also fit for London-work.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 247. The following cut … represents a stout and useful crushing mill for ordinary purposes.
9. Of plants and their parts: Strong in growth; thick, not slender.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 120. Now downe with the grasse vpon hedlonds about, that groweth in shadow, so ranke and so stout.
1791. Cowper, Yardley Oak, 117. Yet is thy root … A quarry of stout spurs, and knotted fangs.
1841. Florist’s Jrnl., II. 2. The pistil is yellowish, with a shade of green and brown, and it is stout and fleshy. Ibid. (1845), VI. 156. The plant is altogether of a much stouter habit, and is remarkable for the large size of the foliage.
1870. Daily News, 16 April, 6/5. The oats are harvested, and in the next year the clover and grass are ‘stout.’
1882. Vines, trans. Sachs’ Bot., 16. The stouter species of the genus Spirogyra.
1882. Garden, 7 Jan., 8/1. The plants … should be kept well up to the light, as this … keeps them stouter.
† 10. Of soil: ? Firm, not boggy. Obs.
1764. Museum Rust., II. 80. If the land be stout and good, there is a chance for the seed to stand for a crop.
† 11. Of liquor: Having ‘body’ or density. Chiefly of ale or beer: cf. STOUT sb.2 Obs.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 242. The Wine … being of so stout a Body that it is not subject to decay presently.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 131. I have known a considerable Quantity of Stout-bear spoiled, by brewing with Pond-water wherein its [sc. the Ash’s] Leaves fell.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 22. For Stout Butt-beer. This is the strongest Butt-beer that is brewed from brown Malt.
1771. Encycl. Brit., I. 669/2. For stout-beer is commonly drawn one barrel off a quarter of malt.
1818. Maginn, in Blackw. Mag., IV. 324. While we sung and we laugh’d, and the stout ale quaff’d.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 69. Stout ales … labour under one material want—that of spiritual vigour.
12. Of persons: Thick in the body, not lean or slender; usually in unfavorable sense, inclined to corpulence; often euphemistically = corpulent, fat.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 94. A gentleman of a stout make, and about 40 years of age.
1807. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 430. A short stout man.
1833. Lytton, Godolphin, v. An old gentleman, of the age of sixty-three, in a bob-wig, and inclined to be stout.
1840. Thackeray, Barber Cox, Dec. We tried a gallopard, which I found anything but easy; for since I am come back to a life of peace and comfort, it’s astonishing how stout I’m getting.
1845. Budd, Dis. Liver, 166. Madame Mazet, æt. 34, of very strong constitution, and very stout.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xli. ‘She is stouter too, and altogether improved,’ continued Miss Rosalind, who was disposed to be very fat.
1856. Compaing & Devere, Tailor’s Guide Cutting, 6. We term a man slender in the waist, if this part of the body is small compared with the size of the breast measure. He is stout when, on the contrary, the waist is large in comparison with the breast. Ibid. Figures 3, 4, and 5 shew stout waists…. A man is not stout because he measures so many inches, but because he is larger in the waist than the usual proportion.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Arden, 747. Stout, rosy, with his babe across his knees.
1866. P’cess Alice, Mem. (1884), 121. Uncle looks very well, but he grows very stout, I think.
1888. Miss Braddon, Fatal Three, I. i. The gentleman was middle-aged and stout.
1892. J. Ashby-Sterry, Lazy Minstrel, 231. That young maidens, slim and shy, May grow old and stout and sly.
1899. Lady M. Verney, Verney Mem., IV. 167. His military bearing is giving way to a slouching gait as he grows older and stouter.
b. Of animals, their limbs or parts: Thick, massive. Of certain moths: Thick in the body. Stout dart: the moth Agrotis ravida.
1832. J. Rennie, Consp. Butterfl. & Moths, 54.
1840. Macgillivray, Man. Ornith., I. 114. Bill … moderately stout or rather slender. Ibid., 115. Feet rather stout.
1869. E. Newman, Brit. Moths, 335.
13. Of a material object or substance: So thick as to be strong or rigid.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 107. It was admitted by all, that no hemp … had a sufficient strength of harle for making stout cordage, but the hemp of Riga and Petersburge.
1801. J. Thomson, Poems Sc. Dial., 25. I’d hang them in a gude stout tow, Wha are the wyte o’t.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 209. On a stout board GH, are firmly jointed two uprights LM.
1825. Scott, Talism., i. A stout poniard.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 103. The barrel intended to be bored is fastened at the breach or stouter end by means of a strong screw.
1834. H. M’Murtrie, Cuvier’s The Animal Kingdom, 313. The web of some exotic species is formed of such stout materials that it will arrest small Birds.
1847. De Quincey, Sp. Mil. Nun, 10. One stout needle.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., 12. It is made of stout sheet-iron.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, vi. 67. Those stout woollen petticoats.
1875. Huxley & Martin, Elem. Biol., xiii. 196. Cut away the front of the pelvis with a stout pair of scissors.
1891. Law Times, XCII. 79/1. This almanack … is pasted on very stout cardboard.
1907. J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6), 121. Strips of stout paper.
b. Of bacon: see quot. 1905.
1905. W. H. Simmonds, Pract. Grocer, III. 108. Regarding weight and sizes, the wholesale dealers classify the best branded Irish bacon as lean sizable, prime sizable, lean stout, prime stout, and lean sixes…. English smoked bacon is cut in sides,… each classified into lean sizable, sizable, medium, stout medium, and heavy.
1913. Times, 9 Aug., 19/6. 84s. to 90s. for lean sizeable [bacon], 83s. to 87s. for lean stout, and 83s. to 88s. for stout sizeable.
III. 14. Comb., as stout-looking adj.; also in many parasynthetic derivatives, as stout-armed, -bodied, -limbed, -minded, -sided, -soled, -winged, -worded adjs.; † stout-stomached a., high-spirited, obstinate. Also STOUT-HEARTED a.
1878. E. C. G. Murray, Russians of To-day, 87. A smart flagellation or two at the hands of a *stout-armed wardress.
1859. *Stout-bodied moths [see SLENDER a. 11].
1913. Sir H. Johnston, Pioneers Australasia, v. 173. The people being very black, strong, and *stout-limbed.
1830. Scott, Hrt. Midl., Introd. A little, rather *stout-looking woman.
1908. W. R. Nicoll, ‘Ian Maclaren,’ ix. 169. The then Bishop of Liverpool, the *stout-minded English Evangelical, better known as J. C. Ryle.
a. 1612. Ralegh, Lett. to Pr. Henry Sceptick etc. (1651), 128. In a well conditioned Ship, these things are chiefly required. 1. That she be strong built. 2. Swift in sail. 3. *Stout-sided.
1891. C. T. C. James, Rom. Rigmarole, 6. The Squire’s were broad-welted, *stout-soled ones.
1549. Latimer, 2nd Sern. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 57. He was a *stoute stomaked chyld.
1560. Becon, Catech., IV. Wks. I. 386. Howe earnestly that stout stomacked and couragious Matrone Iudith rebuked them for this theyr impaciency.
1626. Maldon (Essex) Docum. Bundle 208. No. 9. A good stout-stomacked gelding, full of mettle.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XXI. xvi. *Stout-winged Eagles ne’r were made to be Consorts to flitting Dunghil flies.
1863. Athenæum, 22 Aug., 234/2. The Judges were strong-minded and *stout-worded men.
B. adv. = STOUTLY adv. Now rare. † To bear oneself stout: to behave haughtily or defiantly.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 296. A man þat þeris him stoute, whan þat he suld bowe, In chance if þat he loute, he [etc.].
1436. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 196. [England’s] sonne wente aboute in alle the worlde stoute.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 78. Ane bright fyre couth he se Birnand full stout.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 152. In bloudie warre right stout thou playst.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 55. [The French King’s] Subiects … beare themselues stout vpon the strength of the Duke of Britaine.
1726. Dyer, Country Walk, 11. A beautiful variety Of strutting cocks, advancing stout.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ii. 32. The pony … proved himself a good one, running very stout and fast.
b. Comb. with pa. pples.
1878. Milwaukee Daily News, 15 Sept., 4/3. The idea of feeding supervisors who were well and ‘thick’ and *stout-bellied upon extra dainty meats.
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, xii. A *stout-built peasant.
1890. D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, iv. 75. He was a short, stout-built man.
1595. Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. lii. Wks. (Grosart), II. 31. Which publique death … made his *stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right, as that [etc.].
1823. Scott, Quentin D., ii. His comrade was a *stout-formed, middle-sized man. Ibid. (1820), Abbot, xiv. The mock dignitary was a *stout-made, under-sized fellow.
