Uncouth

a. and sb. Forms: α. 1 uncuþ, 1–3 uncuð (3 vn-), 2 unkuþ, 3 -kuð, 4 un-, vncuth (-cut), 5 vnchut; 3 vnecouþ, 3–4 onecouþ, 4 vnkouþ; 4–7 vn-, 4– uncouth (5–6 Sc. wn-, 6 on-), 4–6 vnkouth (5 -koud, 6 Sc. wn-, onkouth), 6 Sc. oncoutht, 6–8 uncooth, 7 uncough; 4 oncouþe, 4–5 vn-, unkouþe, 4–6 vn-, uncouthe (4 -kouthe, 5 Sc. wncou(y)the, 6 vncovthe); 3–5 vncowþe, -the (5 -k(u)owtho), 4 vnkowth (6 on-), 5 oncowth, 6 oncowght. β. 2 uncoð-, 3 vncoþ-, vnekoþ-, 4 vnchoþe, 5 -koth, 5–6 -cothe, 6–7 vn-, uncoth. (See also UNQUOD, -QUOTH, and UNCO.) [OE. uncúþ (f. un- UN-¹ + cúþ COUTH a.), = MDu. oncont (Du. onkond), OHG. unkund, -chunt (MHG. unkunt), ON. úkunnr (obs. Da. ukund), Goth. unkunþs. In many examples from the 17th and 18th centuries the exact sense is difficult to determine.]

  A.  adj. † 1. Of facts or matters of knowledge: Unknown; also, not certainly known, uncertain. Obs.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., Pref. ad fin. Uncuð [hit is] hu longe ðær swæ ʓelærede biscepas sien.

c. 900.  trans. Baeda’s Hist., II. xiii. (1890), 134. To wiðmetenesse þære tide, þe us uncuð is.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 51. Us is swiþe uncuþ hwæt ure yrfeweardas … don willon æfter urum life.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, On Old Test. (Gr.), 4. God … sealde heora ælcum synderlice spræce, þat heora ælcum wæs uncuð, hwæt oðer sæde.

a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 23. Ic bliðeliche ðine rad wile hlesten,… ȝif ðu me ðin uncuðe name woldest kyðen.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4296. Ful fewe bedys are yn hys mouþe, He vsyþ none; þey are vncouthe.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., lxiii. Quhen sall ȝour merci rew vpon ȝour man, Quhois seruice is ȝit vncouth vnto ȝow?

1447.  Bokenham, Seyntys, Introd. (Roxb.), 4. Wych story is no thyng unkuowthe At mownt Flask.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. viii. (S.T.S.), I. 48. This ordour of preisthede was … nocht vncouth to þe pepill of albane.

a. 1577.  Gascoigne, Dan Barth., Wks. (1587), 101. With stopping sobs … be sought To utter that which was to one uncouth.

1616.  Boys, Wks. (1622), 871. Now the whole superficies of the earth as well vncouth as discouered, is but a little point.

1650.  R. Gell, Serm., 8 Aug., 2. A kind of attestation not uncouth among the Poets.

  2.  With which one is not acquainted or familiar; unfamiliar, unaccustomed, strange: a. Of ways, paths, etc. (frequently passing into sense 5).

  α.  Beowulf, 1410. Ofereode þa æþelinga bearn … enge anpaðas, uncuð ʓelad.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., xiii. 58. Merecondel scyfð on ofdæle, uncuðne weʓ nihtes ʓeneðeð.

1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. xi. (Skeat), l. 45. Folisshe ignoraunce misledeth wandring wrecches by uncouth wayes that shulden be forleten.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xx. 314. Ride euer be nyght and by the moste vn-cowth weyes that ye may.

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 67. I wandred through streets and passages vncooth.

1611.  Florio, Inuio sentiere, an vngone, vntroden or vncouth path or way.

1667.  Milton, P. L., X. 475. But I Toild out my uncouth passage, forc’t to ride Th’ untractable Abysse.

1691.  Swift, Athenian Soc., Wks. 1755, IV. I. 231. To grope her uncouth way After a mighty light that leads her wand’ring eye. Ibid. (1704), T. Tub, xi. They would make choice of the … most uncouth rounds … that they might be sure to avoid one another.

  β.  1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., XIV. 829. Frauncis Sforce taking a straunge and vncothe waye, was receyued at Sesto by Prospero.

1588.  Greene, Alcida, Wks. (Grosart), IX. 55. Wandring awhile by many vncoth paths, at last wee came into a faire place.

1600.  J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth, 69. Nature … Is now inforc’d in vncoth walkes to stray.

  b.  Of lands or places.

  α.  c. 960.  Rule St. Benet, lxi. 109. Se utancumena munuc, þe of uncuðum eardum cymð.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 157. Wume nu … þet ic scal wunien in unkuþe londe.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 53. Hu muȝe we singen godes loft song in uncuðe londe?

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 325. Þus feor in one-couþe londe Mit deol and soruwe ich habbe i-leoued.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 1192. Time it is þat ich fond To winne priis in vncouþe lond.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12510. The sea … Depertid the pepull, pyne to be-hold, In costes vnkowthe.

a. 1450.  Le Morte Arth., 851. She it yaff to the scottisshe knight, For he was of an vnkouth stede.

a. 1470.  Harding, Chron., CCXLI. vii. Who hath power to make you resistence In any wise, in any vncouth lande?

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. Wks. 1237/2. Whan they shall … cary vs farre from home into a straunge vncouth lande.

1632.  Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. xxvi. 97. The silly stranger in an uncouth country must take with a smoky inn.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 333. Brethren and men of Dan, for such ye seem, Though in this uncouth place.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1840), 97. [They] wandered into fields and woods, and into secret uncouth places.

1824.  Scott, Rodgauntlet, let. xi. Ye see, birkie, it is nae chancy thing to tak a stranger traveller for a guide, when you are in an uncouth land.

  β.  1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6445. Þat he hom to deþe broȝte So ver in vnekoþe lond, þat no mon of hom ne roȝte.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 531. A sure knyghte … ayres into vnkoth lond auntres to seche.

  c.  Of persons.

For the early legal use see HOGHENHINE. For the phrase uncouth, unkissed, see UNKISSED.

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., VI. xxxi. 286. Þa com him onʓean an uncuð mon, & ofstong Iulianus.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John x. 5. Ne fyliað hiʓ uncuþum,… for þam þe hiʓ ne ʓecneowon uncuþra stefne.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxiii. 613. Þæt þær ʓelæht wære binnan þære byriʓ an uncuð ʓeong man.

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 231. Scewie we þes uncoðe mæn ur ȝefo.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7107. Seoððen her com vncuð folc faren in þessere þeode.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 54. A meiden … eode vt uor to biholden uncuðe wummen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5495. Þar ras an vncut king þat had to ioseph na knauing.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 141. Vnkouþe knihtes schul come þi kingdam to clayme.

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 501. Unkowth men wele may he shende, That to his felows es so unhende.

1446.  Lydg., Nightingale Poems, ii. 44. From the god of love To me was sent an vnkouth messangier.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, III. vi. 105. Vncouth men ye shold debate with al & no broder with broder.

1596.  Warner, Alb. Eng., XI. lxii. (1612), 272. They, seeing vncouth Men and Ships, weare wondringly agaste.

  d.  Of peoples or nations.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Deut. xxviii. 36. Drihten sent uncuðe þeode ofer eow, þa þe ʓe ne cunnon.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1171. In vncuth lede sal end mi wa. Ibid., 4177. Þan sagh þai cumand be þe stret Marchands of an vncuth thede.

c. 1400.  St. Alexius (Trin.), 258. Tydynges none hy ne broȝte Of his sone, þat him soȝte In vncouþe þede.

c. 1450.  Lydg., Secrees, 219. In Rethoryk he hadde experyence Of euery strange, unkouth nacyoun.

  † e.  Sc. Pertaining to other nations; foreign. Obs.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, II. xv. (S.T.S.), I. 187. How beit þe ciete was in quiet þis ȝere but ony vncouth or domestic weris. Ibid., V. xxiv. II. 232. Nocht standing oure neir þe sey to resaif dammaige be perell of oncouth flotis.

  3.  Of an unknown or unfamiliar character; unusual, uncommon, strange; marvelous. Now rare.

  Very common c. 1590–1700. In later use passing into 6.

Beowulf, 876. Secg … welhwylc ʓecwæð, þæt he fram Siʓemunde secgan hyrde ellendædum uncuþes fela.

c. 900.  trans. Baeda’s Hist., II. xii. (1890), 128. Þa ʓeseah he … summe mon wið his gongan … uncuðes ʓeʓyrlan.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 194. Ʒif men þæt heafod berste, oððe uncuð swyle onʓesitte.

a. 1122.  O. E. Chron., an. 1106. Hiʓ ma on þison timon uncuðra steorra ʓesawon.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 228. Þeȝȝ wisstenn þatt himm wass þatt daȝȝ Summ unncuþ sihhþe shæwedd.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22494. Efter þe tua fules þe þrid, An uncuth dai þan es it kidd.

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 683. Queme yee me might, Of this unkouth case too karp þe soothe.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 1279. Ther saugh I Colle tregetour Vpon a table of Sygamour Pley an vncouthe thynge to telle. Ibid. (c. 1386), Sqr.’s T., 284. Who couþe telle you þe forme of daunces So vncouthe.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 25. The tragides divers and unkouth Of morall Senec. Ibid. (1430–40), Bochas, IX. xxxiii. 34 b. His vncouth story breuely to compyle.

1448–9.  Metham, Amoryus & Cl., 1278. The venym owte off hys tayle in-to hys mowth He drawyth anone…; Thow yt gretly be meruulus and oncowth.

a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., V. lxxxiii. 61. The Kynge had maryed a woman of vncowght beleue.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xxi. 101. Moued with this uncouthe syght.

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 80. I through pangs vncoth vnhabled,… thus fumbled an aunswer.

1603.  B. Jonson, Sejanus, III. iii. It is no uncouth thing To see fresh buildings from old ruines spring.

1648.  Hunting of Fox, 24. Saint Bridgit her selfe, the mother of so many uncouth Revelations.

1693.  N. Mather, in Owen, Holy Spirit, Pref. Novel and uncouth Terms foreign to the Things of God.

1710.  Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., I. § 1. We are insensibly drawn into uncouth paradoxes.

1748.  Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iii. 350. The Speculations may seem uncouth to those who are not conversant in Mathematical Inquiries.

1801.  trans. Gabrielli’s Myst. Husb., III. 173. When James’s uncouth story was absolutely confirmed.

1847.  G. Harris, Ld. Hardwicke, II. viii. 237. The men crowded together to gaze on the uncouth, unaccustomed spectacle presented by the Highlanders.

1864.  Bowen, Logic, v. 136. It would certainly be accounted a forced and uncouth assertion.

  † b.  Alien or foreign to something. Obs. rare.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., II. pr. ii. (1868), 34. Syn þat stedfastnesse is vnkouþ to my maneres.

1697.  J. Sergeant, Solid Philos., 273. Any other and higher Points, especially such as are Uncouth to … Natural Reason.

  † c.  Unrecognizable. Obs.^–1

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 318. So what with blod and what with teres … He made hire faire face uncouth.

  † 4.  Of a strange and unpleasant or distasteful character. Obs.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 242. Þis unkouþe discencioun þat is bitwixe þes popes.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, II. xxviii. (1554), 64. Atwene them, there was an uncouth strife.

1586.  Day, Eng. Secretorie, I. (1625), 46. The sight became so vncouth, as all men shamed, each one feared, and none durst abide it.

1641.  Brome, Joviall Crew, I. (1652), B iv. I hop’d thou hadst abjur’d that uncough practice.

1696.  Whiston, The. Earth (1722), 7. An uncouth and incredible system.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 382. The Sight, you may be sure, was something uncouth to our Spaniards.

1785.  Burke, Nabob Arcot, Wks. IV. 320. To some the subject is strange and uncouth; to several harsh and distasteful.

1797.  Godwin, Enquirer, I. vi. 43. They will not accept an uncouth and disgustful lesson.

  † b.  Of smells, sounds, etc. Obs.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXI. lv. 425. The Elephants … frighted the horses especially, & not onely with the straunge sight, but also with as uncouth a sent and savor.

1658.  Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 909. Poysoned Honey … hath a strange and uncouth smell.

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 29. Toddy … tasts like Rhenish; at first draught it is uncouth, but every draught tasts better than other.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xv. (1840), 257. A strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard.

  † c.  Unseemly, indecorous. Obs.

1589.  Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 40. Samela meruailed at such an vncouth banquet.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, I. xviii. 4. Nor sweld his brest with vncouth pride therefore, That heau’n on him aboue this charge had laide.

1659.  Brome, Eng. Moor, I. iii. Which uncouth Policie to sorrow leads Thousands a thousand wayes.

  5.  Of places: Not commonly known or frequented; solitary, desolate, wild, rugged, rough.

  α.  a. 1542.  Wyatt, in Anglia (1897), XX. 432. So close the Cave was and unkouth Y^t none but God was record off his payne.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vi. 6. If this vncouth Forrest yeeld any thing sauage, I wil either be food for it, or bring it for foode to thee.

1633.  T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., I. xviii. (1821), 191. Lurking in desart, uncouth, and unknowen places.

1653.  H. Cogan, Diod. Sic., 256. Wandring alone through desert and uncouth places, he died with sorrow.

1728.  Morgan, Algiers, I. iii. 72. I have met with the Ruins of several stately Buildings … in uncooth Mountains.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. vii. 73. This uncouth and rugged coast.

1814.  Scott, Wav., lxiii. He soon pursued a very uncouth path.

1830.  J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 119. The Prior of St. Mary’s at York was chosen Abbot by the Monks; with whom they withdrew into this uncouth desert.

  β.  1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 99. When they toe thee mountayns and too layrs vncoth aproched.

1595.  Locrine, III. vi. 7. Where may I finde some hollow vncoth rocke, Where I may … ban my fill?

  b.  Of life, surroundings, etc.: Unattractive, unpleasant, uncomfortable. Obs. or arch.

1611.  Coryat, Crudities, 409. Duke Iohn … liued a most vncouth and solitary life in the desert forrests.

a. 1627.  Middleton, Witch, II. i. ’Tis so uncouth Living i’ th’ country, now I’m us’d to th’ city.

1670.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XII. § 130. [He] order’d his other small Troops to contain themselves in those uncouth Quarters, in which they were.

1685.  in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 404. This place is very uncouth to me now you are gone out of it!

1888.  Stevenson, Black Arrow, III. iv. The pair were left to their uncouth reflections for the night.

  † c.  Strange; uneasy; at a loss. Obs.^–1

1660.  Pepys, Diary, 26 May. All the great company being gone, I found myself very uncouth all this day for want thereof.

  6.  Of an unfamiliar or strange appearance or form; spec., having an odd, uncomely, awkward, or clumsy shape or bearing.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, XI. xv. 12. In brovne sangwane weill dycht Abuf hys onkouth armour blomand brycht.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, II. 38. In vncouth armes yclad and strange disguise.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage, 685. An vncouth Idoll, great and hollow, fastened in the wall with lime.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., II. ii. § 14. The Frost and Wind will draw upon Doors and glass-Windows pretty uncouth streaks like feathers and other fooleries.

1713.  Pope, Windsor For., 403. Then ships of uncouth form shall stem the tide.

1770.  Cook, Voy. round World, II. ix. (1773), III. 453. The dress of a New Zealander is certainly … the most uncouth that can be imagined.

1838.  Lytton, Leila, I. v. A profusion of strange and uncouth instruments and machines.

1845.  Ford, Handbk. Spain, I. 53. The ponies of Gallicia, although ugly and uncouth, are admirably suited to the wild hilly country.

1879.  H. Phillips, Notes Coins, 12. A heavy and uncouth gold British coin of remote antiquity.

  b.  Of persons: Awkward and uncultured in appearance or manners. Also transf.

1732.  Sir C. Wogan, Lett. to Swift, 27 Feb. The very name of Irish carries so uncouth an idea along with it.

1740.  Somerville, Hobbinol, I. 165. The jocund Troop … incessant shake Their uncouth brawny Limbs.

1798.  S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 64. I have never seen this redoubtable, troublesome, uncouth cousin of mine.

1825.  Macaulay, Ess., Milton (1851), I. 24. People saw nothing of the godly but their uncouth visages.

1828.  Lytton, Pelham, iii. A raw, uncouth sort of young man, with a green coat and lank hair.

1868.  Farrar, Seekers, I. vi. (1875), 75. He dragged out an uncouth panic-stricken mortal.

  Comb.  1809.  W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 57. Several uncouth-looking beings seated on rocks.

1869.  Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 292 The shepherds were an uncouth-looking set.

  c.  Of language, style, etc.

1694.  Penn, Rise & Progr. Quakers, v. Though that side of his understanding which lay next to the world, and especially the expression of it, might sound uncouth and unfashionable to nice ears.

1699.  Garth, Dispens., IV. 50. Harsh words, tho’ pertinent, uncooth appear.

1717.  Lady Montagu, Lett. to Pope, 1 April. An expression in an ancient author … may be extremely fine with them, when at the same time it looks low or uncouth to us.

1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., I. 82. Tho’ terms uncouth shou’d strike th’ offended ear, For sake of truth the uncouth measures bear.

1773.  Mrs. Chapone, Improv. Mind (1774), II. 128. Buried in obsolete words and uncouth constructions.

a. 1834.  Coleridge, Shaks. Notes (1875), 145. The scholastic and uncouth words homogenelty, proportionateness.

1870.  Lowell, Among My Books, 162. Where it does not make Shakespeare write bad sense, uncouth metre, or false grammar.

  absol.  1737.  Pope, Hor., Ep., II. ii. 174 Prune the luxuriant, the uncouth refine, But show no mercy to an empty line.

  d.  Of manners, actions, etc.

1740.  Johnson, Life Drake, Wks. IV. 426. Nor were their other customs less wild or uncouth.

1763.  J. Brown, Poetry & Music, iii. 27. Their Gestures are uncouth and horrid.

1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 274. It was a day of uncouth gambols, and frolics, and rude feasting.

1860.  Adler, Prov. Poet., ii. 29. The uncouth heroism of the barbarous times.

1868.  Nettleship, Ess. Browning, ii. 62. This uncouth mind, so cramped … by the exigencies … of rhythm and rhyme.

  † 7.  Unknowing, ignorant. Also absol. Obs. rare.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 112, in O. E. Misc., 4. His muð is ȝet wel unkuð wið pater noster and crede. Ibid., 512. Ðer-fore oðre fisses to him draȝen;… of his swike he arn uncuð.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 25. For he taght the vn-couthe and vn-kunnynge by his prechynge.

1624.  in Abbotsford Club Misc., 4, margin. The pannell denyet not, but scho said scho was vncouth, and wist not quhat to say.

  B.  1. absol. An unknown person; a stranger.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 348. Ich halsie ou … also unkuðe & pilegrimes, þet ȝe wiðholden ou from vlesliche lustes.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6835. To pilgrime and to vncuth Þou ber þe wit þi dedis cuth.

1340.  Ayenb., 37. Þe priue þyeues byeþ þo þet ne steleþ naȝt of oncouþe ac or priues.

14[?].  Sir Beues (C.) 2134. ‘What bow?’ sche seyde, ‘þou onkowth?’

  2.  sb. pl. Things not commonly known; news.

a. 1529.  Skelton, Col. Clout, 1054. The people … wyl talke of such vncouthes.

1684.  G. Meriton, Yorks. Dial., 42. What uncuths hes ta brought Come tell me seaun?

c. 1746.  J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Wks. (1775), 33. I’d ash him … whot Uncoth’s he heard sturrink.

1828.  Craven Gloss.

  † 3.  spec. (See quot.) Obs.^–1

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 262. Ye haue another vicious speech which the Greekes call Acyron, we call him the vncouthe, and is when we vse an obscure and darke word.