Sturdy

a. and sb. Forms: 4 stourdi, sturdi, (stourde), 4–6 stourdy, stordy, 6 stourdie, sturdye, 6–7 sturdie, 7 stirdy, 4– sturdy. [a. OF. estourdi, estordi, esturdi, stunned, dazed, reckless, violent (mod.F. étourdi feather-brained, thoughtless), = Pr. estordit, It. stordito, Sp., Pg. aturdido; pa. pple. of OF. estourdir (mod.F. étourdir) to stun, daze, = It. stordire, Sp., Pg. aturdir (? from Fr.):—vulgar L. *exturdīre, of obscure origin.

  Some scholars think that it is f. ex- (see EX-) + turd-us thrush (for the sense cf. the Fr. proverbial phrase soûl comme une grive, ‘drunk as a thrush’); some regard it as a contraction of *extorpidīre (L. torpidus TORPID) or of *exturbidīre (L. turbidus TURBID). All these conjectures are open to grave objection; another hypothesis, of derivation from Teut. *sturtjan to overthrow (see START v.), is on phonological grounds inadmissible.]

  A.  adj.

  I.  1. In the primary etymological sense: Giddy. Said of sheep affected with the ‘sturdy’: see B. Now dial. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 73. If there bee any of the hogges that bee sturdy, lame, weake.

  II.  † 2. Impetuously brave, fierce in combat.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7936. Þe heyemen of engelond … mid gret ost wende uorþ & mid stourdi [v.r. stourde] mode.

c. 1300.  K. Horn, 893 (Laud MS.). We neuere ne hente Of man so harde dunte Bute of þe king Mory Þat was so swyþe stordy.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, V. 506*. He sa sturdy wes and stout, That he wes the mast vorthy man That in-to Carrick liffit than.

c. 1425.  Engl. Conq. Ireland, xlvi. 116. The northeren men ben stordyer & smerter to fyght than other. Ibid., 118. Thegh he wer yn wepne vnmetly stordy, & sterne, out of wepne natheles, he was meke and sobre.

1630.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 23. Able, and hardy bodies, and stout and sturdy stomacks.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1900), 258. They so belabored him, being sturdy men at Arms, that they made him make a Retreat.

  † b.  Of a battle: Fierce, violent. Obs.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, xiii. 782. Therfore was that stour ful Stordy.

1579.  E. K., Gloss. to Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., Feb., 149. Sterne strife, said Chancer, s. fell and sturdy.

  † 3.  Recklessly violent, furious, ruthless, cruel.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3842. He adrou sire calibourne, is suerd … & anowarde þe helm, mid wel stourdy mod, Þen oþer he smot.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., III. met. ii. (1868), 68. Þe liouns of þe contree of pene … dreden her sturdy maystres [L. trucem … magistrum] of whiche þei ben wont to suffren betinges.

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 643. Lewys the .xi. … of Gaguinus is callyd the sturdy or fell Lewys.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., III. ix. (1883), II. 272. So no violence or sturdye mynde lackynge reason and honestie is any parte of fortitude.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. iii. (Arb.), 22. To redresse and edifie the cruell and sturdie courage of man.

  b.  Of waves, a stream, a storm, etc.: Violent, rough. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 698. And entryt sone in-to the rase, Quhar that the strem sa sturdy was.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 16670. Fordryven with many sturdy wawes off adversyte.

1569.  T. Newton, Cicero’s Old Age, 33. In the sturdy and nipping cold of winter.

1588.  Churchyard, Spark Friendship, Ep. Ded. A 3 b. The brute beastes that auoydes a sturdie storme, vnder the sauegard of a strong and flourishing tree.

1648.  Kentish, Serm. to Commons, 10. The highest Houses are subject to the sturdiest storms.

1660.  Riders, Brit. Merlin, Oct. Sturdy storms of rain or snow, with extream ill weather, to the moneths end.

1823.  Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 226. A pretty decent and sturdy rain began to fall.

  † c.  Of movement: Furious. Of a blow: Violent.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 454. And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere … A sturdy [v.rr. stourdy, stordy] paas doun to the court he gooth.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 201. But to the roote [he] bent his sturdie stroke, And made many wounds in the wast Oake.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 40. With many wounds and sturdy blows both giuen and receiued.

  † 4.  Of or with regard to countenance, speech, demeanor: Stern, harsh, rough, surly. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3287. After mete he nom is wif mid stourdi mod ynou, & wiþoute leue of þe kinge toward is contreye drou.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 642. What koude a sturdy housbonde moore deuyse To preeue hire wyfhod or hir stedefastnesse, And he continuynge euere in sturdinesse?

c. 1440.  Partonope, 2573. And to my men dyspitous and sturdy.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., I. vii. (1883), I. 40. Retaynyng his fiers and stourdie countenance. Ibid., II. v. II. 48. Litle and litle he withdrewe from men his accustomed gentilnesse, becomyng more sturdy in langage, and straunge in countenance, than euer before had ben his usage.

1552.  Huloet, Sturdy, superbus, superciliosus.

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VIII. ii. § 13. Their sturdy behauiour, and Lord-like carriage against the English.

  † 5.  Hard to manage, intractable, refractory; rebellious, disobedient. Obs.

13[?].  K. Alis., 1332. Thider he wendith with gret pres, This stordy citeis for to dres.

c. 1400.  Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xv. Alauntes beeth inly fell and euyl vndrestondynge and more fooliche and more sturdy þan any oþer manere of houndes.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 481/2 Sturdy, vnbuxum, rebellis, contumax, inobediens.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 296. To be sturdy to fadyr & modyr.

1514.  Barclay, Cit. & Uplondyshman (Percy Soc.), 17. The fyrste plowman and tyller of the grounde, Was rude and stordy, dysdaynynge to be bounde.

1603.  Drayton, Bar. Wars, I. l. Sturdie to manage, of a haughtie Spright.

1604.  F. Herring, Mod. Defence Caveat, 6. A sturdie horse requires a rough rider.

1611.  Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., II. xiii. 121. The ancient Inhabitants of this Country [Flint] were the Ordouices, a sturdy people against the Romans, but now most kinde and gentle towards the English.

c. 1635.  in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 122. My sonn doth begine to be toe sturdie for my government.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 187. The most sturdy and refractory Non-conformists.

1688.  Penton, Guardian’s Instruct. (1897), 10. Beware of setting up that stirdy Resolution which some make, never to give off what they have once begun.

1781.  Cowper, Hope, 182. Man is the genuine offspring of revolt, Stubborn and sturdy—a wild ass’s colt.

  † b.  Obstinate, immovable in opinion. Obs.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., Apol. 522. If men would not bring their own sturdy Preconceptions, but listen to the easy and natural aire of the Text.

1680.  Tides (MS. Bodl. Add. A. 202), 10. Seafareing men … grow as sturdy and deafe to all the reason and argument that can be employed to undeceive them, as the Eliments wherein they converse.

1684.  R. L’Estrange, Answ. to Dissenter, 4. If they be not either too Sturdy, or too Stately, to Hearken to Reason.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Error, 539. Your blund’rer is as sturdy as a rock. Ibid. (1781), Expost., 298. Where obstinacy takes his Sturdy stand, To disconcert what policy has plann’d.

  c.  [With mixture of sense 7.] Epithet of beggars or vagabonds who are able-bodied and apt to be violent: see BEGGAR sb. 1 b., VALIANT a. 1 b. Also sturdy and valiant.

1402.  Jack Upland, in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 96. For in many places thai damnen suche sturdy beggyng.

1535–6.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 25 § 1. Suche poore creature or sturdie vacabund.

1556.  in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), 174, note. Sturdie & valiente Beggers.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades, II. iii. (1592), 129. The sturdie roag vnworthie of almes.

1656.  Beale, Heref. Orchards (1657), 39. Where Trade thrives not,… all doors and highwayes are oppressed with idle and sturdy vagabonds.

a. 1680.  Butler, Lady’s Answ., 43. Like sturdy Beggars, that intreat For Charity at once, and threat.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Sturdy-beggers, the fifth and last of the most ancient Order of Canters.

1789.  J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 202. When I reprove a sturdy beggar for being idle, he tells me roundly, that he cannot get employment.

  6.  Of material things: Refractory, defiant of destructive agencies or force; strong, stout.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1380. Þe sturdy ok On which men hakketh ofte for þe nones.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4155. Vpon the whiche also stode Of squared stoon a sturdy wall.

1575.  Gammer Gurton, I. ii. 16. Chwold rend it, though it were stitched wath sturdy pacthreede.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 41 b. Suche Grayne as hath the sturdiest strawe.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XV. ii. Euerie tender lim In sturdie steele and stubburne plate they dight.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. i. 305. His Doublet was of sturdy Buff.

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 417. On the vext Wilderness, whose … sturdiest Oaks Bow’d thir Stiff necks.

1697.  Evelyn, Numism., i. 10. Foliated with Silver upon this sturdy and inflexible Metal [Iron].

1841.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xxxiii. A violent gust of wind and rain … seemed to shake even that sturdy house to its foundation.

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1871), I. 141. The old triumphal arch of Drusus—a sturdy construction, much dilapidated [etc.].

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, XIII. 359. Hasten thou And bring a sturdy javelin from the tent.

  † b.  Of wine: Rough or harsh to the taste. Obs.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., XI. 390. Also a man may in oon dayes while So trete a stordy wyn that hit shal smyle, And of a rough drynker be cleer and best.

  † c.  Of an ailment: Refractory to treatment. Obs.

1643.  J. M., Sov. Salve, 1. For a sturdy sore many plaisters are but sufficient.

1658.  A. Fox, Würtz’ Surg., III. viii. 239. The named remedies will availe nothing, because the Imposthumation is too sturdy for them.

  d.  Of a plant: Hardy.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, VI. (1723), 296. The more sturdy and vigorous Vegetables.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 530. Thence straight succeed The branches, sturdy to his utmost wish.

1853.  Christina G. Rossetti, Poet. Wks. (1904), 156/1. Lichen and moss and sturdy weed.

  7.  Of persons or animals; Characterized by rough bodily vigor; solidly built; stalwart, strong, robust, hardy.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 46. A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 195. And he war stark and sturdy, and mycht wele bere armes.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. (1900), 120. Like as the armes of a smith that is weake in other thinges, because they are more exercised, be stronger then an other bodyes that is sturdy, but not exercysed to worke with his armes.

1580.  Blundevil, Curing Horses Dis., clxxxiv. 74. Weake, delicate, and tender Horses may not be purged in such sort, as those that be of a strong sturdie nature.

1705.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4102/4. A short squat sturdy Lad.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 325. The brown bear is made rather strong and sturdy, like the mastiff.

1784.  Cowper, Tiroc., 341. Great schools suit best the sturdy and the rough.

1837.  J. Kirkbride, Northern Angler, 55. His tackle must be strong; for lake-trout are in general rather sturdy customers.

1848.  L. Hunt, Jar of Honey, x. 141. The sturdy youth, for the first time in his life, fainted away.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 267. A rugged land … well fitted to produce a sturdy race.

  b.  Of movements: Displaying physical vigor. Also as epithet of health, vigor, etc.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 639. And labour him with many a sturdy Stroak.

1710.  Prior, Two Riddles, 14. With sturdy steps he walks.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, 28. How bow’d the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!

1861.  Stanley, East. Ch., vi. (1869), 187. All were struck by the sturdy health and vigour of his frame.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, liii. His thickset frame had no longer the sturdy vigour which belonged to it.

  8.  transf. Of persons, their actions and attributes: Characterized by rough mental vigor; robust in mind or character; ‘downright,’ uncompromising.

1775.  Johnson, West. Isl., Ostig, Wks. 1787, X. 464. A Scotchman must be a very sturdy moralist, who does not love Scotland better than truth.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Forester, xiii. His sturdy principles of integrity could not bend to any of the arguments, founded on expediency, which [etc.].

1828.  Hazlitt, Self-Love & Benev., Sk. & Ess. (1872), 77. I respect that fine old sturdy fellow Hobbes.

1866.  Kingsley, Herew., ix. They were distinguished … for sturdy independence, and for what generally accompanies it—sturdy common sense.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., vii. § 1. 344. The sturdy good sense of the man shook off the pedantry of the schools.

  b.  Of expressions: Vigorous, lusty.

1822.  Byron, Vis. Judgm., lix. Here crash’d a sturdy oath of stout John Bull.

1856.  Emerson, Eng. Traits, Literature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 105. The more hearty and sturdy expression may indicate that the savageness of the Norseman was not all gone.

  9.  Comb., as sturdy-chested, -hearted adjs.; † sturdy-boots [see BOOTS¹ 3], jocularly, an obstinate person.

1531.  Elyot, Gov., III. ii. (1883), II. 196. The infinite numbre of the sturdye harted Jues could neuer haue ben gouerned by any wisedome, if they had nat ben brideled with ceremonyes.

1762.  Bickerstaff, Love in Village, I. x. Well said, sturdy-boots.

1836.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Medit. Monmouth St. A stout, broad-shouldered, sturdy-chested man.

  B.  sb.

  1.  A brain-disease in sheep and cattle, which makes them run round and round; the turnsick.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 97/37. Ye sturdy, vertigo.

1598.  Fitzherbert’s Husb., II. xxvii. 63. Of the turne, otherwise called the sturdy.

1610.  Markham, Masterp., I. xxx. 59. The horse will turne round like a beast that is troubled with the sturdy.

1718.  Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk Gr., III. xx. Fast frae the company he fled, As he had tane the sturdy.

1799.  A. Young, Agric. Surv. Lincs., 329. The sturdy, or bladder on the brain.

1869.  E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 187. The so-called ‘gid,’ ‘sturdy’ or ‘turnsick.’

  b.  A sheep afflicted with ‘sturdy.’

1807.  Prize Ess. & Trans. Highl. Soc., III. 402. A large parcel of lambs, whose bleating brought all the sturdies of the neighbourhood to them.

  2.  A name for darnel or some similar stupefying weed.

1683.  R. Dobbs, Descr. Antrim, in Antrim & Down Gloss., s.v., A sort of Poyson … called darnell, rises in the oats and other grain,… ye country people call it sturdy, from the effects of making people light-headed.

1802.  G. V. Sampson, Statist. Surv. Londonderry, 409. Another very injurious grain is thrown into the malt without reserve. It is called sturdy, and is the lolium secalinum of the botanists. Ibid. App. 15. Bromus Secalinus, field broine-grass; called by the farmers sturdy.

1824.  Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., 441.

  3.  A sturdy person.

1704.  Penn, in Pennsylv. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 305. Those sturdies will never leave off until they catch a Tartar.

1895.  Meredith, Amazing Marr., xxx. II. 339. The boy’ll be a sturdy. She’ll see he has every chance. He’s a lucky little one to have that mother.