| 释义 |
▪ I. stout, n.1 Now dial.|staʊt|
Forms: 1–2 stút, 4 stoute, 7 stowt(e, 7–9 stut, 9 stoat, 6– stout.
[OE. stút, of obscure etymology.]
A gadfly, horse-fly; also applied to a gnat.
Higins (quot. 1585), prob. by mistake, uses it for the candle-fly or moth; Florio follows this, using fire-fly for ‘a fly living in the fire’ (Cooper s.v. Pyrausta).
c1000ælfric Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 121/24 Culex, stut. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 159 Þe snowtes of olyfauntes and his hors eren were so ful of gnattes and stoutes and of greet flyes [L. culicibus et ciniphibus] þat þey [etc.]. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 72/2 Pyrallis,..a candle flie: a stout, or millers soule [printed foule]. 1598Florio, Pirausta, a fire-flye or worme bred and liuing in the fire, and going from it dieth, and flieth into the leame of a candle: some call it a candle-flie, a stout, a miller-fowle, or bishop. 1616J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. xi. 383 And blusshinge welkin fell with stowtes to playe at novum. 1657R. Ligon Barbadoes 62 Musketos, who bite and sting worse then the Gnats and Stouts, that sting Cattle in England. 1666Merrett Pinax 199 Tabanides, a Burrel-fly, stout, Brees, Clog or Cling. 1674–91Ray S. & E.C. Words, A Stut: a Gnat: Somerset. 1852Berks. Gloss., Stout, a sharp stinging fly. 1879Jefferies Wild Life in S.C. 199 A boy armed with a spray of ash, with which he flicks off the stoats that would otherwise drive the animals frantic. 1898C. M. Yonge John Keble's Parishes xvi. 193 The large fly, popularly called a stout, as big as a hornet, lays eggs under the skin of cows.
attrib.a1887Jefferies Field & Hedgerow (1889) 229 The peculiar low whir of the stoat-fly.
b. Newfoundland. (See quot.)
1903A. C. P. Haggard Sporting Yarns 205 The huge ‘stouts’, a gadfly of great biting power, used to attack my head and neck terribly. 1905― Bond of Sympathy 60 A..ferocious insect, thicker than, and about the size of a hornet, which it resembles in being barred with black and yellow. This formidable insect, the Newfoundlanders call the Stout.
▪ II. stout, n.2|staʊt|
Also 7 stoutt.
[Prob. elliptical for stout ale or stout beer (stout a. 11), though in our quots. these are not found till much later.]
†a. ‘A cant name for strong beer’ (J.) Obs.
b. In present use, a strong variety of porter.
1677R. Hawtrey Let., Egerton MS. 2716 We will drink your healths both in stoutt and best wine. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Stout, very strong, Malt-Drink. 1719D'Urfey Pills V. 83 We will frolick in Stout, And banish all Care in a Mug. 1720Swift Poems, To Stella 32 Or kindly, when his credit's out, Surprise him with a pint of stout. 1762W. Burton Let. in Add. MS. 32933, lf. 273 The Porter brewers likewise make a beer of an extraordinary strength called Stout, that will bear being make weaker by mixing it with small. 1816Times 25 Jan. in Hone's Every-day Bk. I. 462 Each house was supplied with Brown Stout. 1848Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xxvi. 237 A bottle of stout and a biscuit. 1882Besant All Sorts Prol. i. I. 12 Messenger, Marsden, and Company's Stout, their XXX, [etc.].
▪ III. stout, a. and adv.|staʊt|
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 n.]
A. adj.
I. Proud, fierce, brave, resolute.
†1.
a. Proud, haughty, arrogant. Often coupled with proud. to make it stout: to swagger. Obs.
c1315Shoreham Poems vii. 410 Alle hy weren ydryuen out, Wyþ lucyfer þat was so stout. c1330Spec. Gy de Warw. 623 Ac þu, fersse man, þat art so stout, And heih of mod, and herte proud. c1400Rom. Rose 6158, I mene of fals Religious, That stoute ben, and malicious [Fr. des felons, des malicieus]. c1400Brut 2 Albyne bycome so stoute & so sterne, þat sche told litel prys of her lord. c1400Sowdone Bab. 1825 Thai made it both stoute and gay. c142126 Pol. Poems xxi. 73 How of hem han hertis stoute Þat reweþ non pore þat han penaunce. c1440Jacob's Well 74 Whan þou art in þat estate,..þanne wexist þou stowt & fell, and puttyst out þi venym of pride. 1535Coverdale Isa. x. 12 The noble and stoute Kynge of Assiria. 1552Huloet, Stowt, superbus, superciliosus. a1586Sidney Arcadia i. v. (1912) 32 A man mightie in riches & power, and proude thereof, stubbornly stout. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 187 As stout and proud as he were Lord of all. 1635E. Pagitt Christianogr. iii. (1636) 22 If he be stout and proud, he is not of God. 1656Baxter Reformed Pastor 177 Can we once conceive of him as purposely washing..his servants feet, and yet be stout and Lordly still? 1669R. 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. a1803[see proud-hearted]. 1851Sternberg Northampt. Gloss., Stout, proud.
†b. Stately, magnificent, splendid. Obs.
a1310in 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. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 12 note, Of reed gold so ryche redilyche I-dyȝte Wiþ preciouse stoones so stoute stondynge þer-ynne. a1400Launfal 985 Up stod the quene and ladyes stoute. c140026 Pol. Poems xxv. 537, I that was full stoute and gay, ffull horyble am now opon to se. 1430–50Erthe upon Erthe iv. 25 Why scholde erthe a-pon erthe goo stowte and gay?
†2.
a. Fierce, furious. Obs.
c1300Beket 512 Sire Hughe Eorl of Chestre, and Eorl Williem of Ferers, Were at this parlement, stout ynou and fers. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4036 He..sagh a bere wylde and stoute. 1338― Chron. (1725) 48 Þe burgeis of London were wroþe & stoute. c142126 Pol. Poems xxi. 139 Drede no tyrauntes sterne and stoute May sle þy body. c1450Lovelich Merlin 2687 Vndyr wheche water ben there ȝet Tweyne wondirful Stowte dragowns. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. xii. 25 Emongst them was sterne Strife, and Anger stout. 1600Holland Livy i. xlvi. 32 The younger Tullia, a stout dame and a proud.
†b. Formidable, menacing; terrible in appearance. Obs.
1338R. 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. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xix. (Christopher) 469 Þat [þa] wemane speryt has with stut vysage & auchtful spek. c1420? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 313 Hys colour was..Foule,..hys eyen gret & stoute. c1470Henry Wallace x. 78 Quha couth behald thair awfull lordly wult, So weill beseyn, so forth⁓wart, stern, and stult. a1550Freiris Berwik 196 in Dunbar's Poems (1893) 291 The gudwyfe spak than, with a visage stowt. 1601Chester Love's Mart. (1878) 27 A huge Tower of brasse,..Able to bide the raging Foes stout frowne.
†c. Of pain: Severe. Obs.
c1425Audelay XI Pains of Hell 144 in O.E. Misc. 227 Faste þei wente þis pepul a-boute, Wiþ moni turmentes grete and stoute.
3. a. Valiant, brave; undaunted and vigorous in conflict or resistance. Also, stout fellow: see fellow n. 9 a. Now somewhat arch. (chiefly attrib. of soldiers).
13..K. Alis. 869 (Laud MS.), Nicholas of cartage Hardy man stout & sauage. c1325Lai 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. 1375Barbour Bruce ii. 390 Thocht he wes stout and hardy,..Thar mycht na worschip thar awailȝe. 1572Huloet (ed. Higins), Stoute or aduenturous, audaculus. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. (1595) 74 Grieue, replied the stout couragious Citizen, yea, euen I. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 54 Stout Bunduca. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. iv. 19 A stouter Champion neuer handled Sword. 1595Phrases Lat. Aldi Manutii 106 Fortis pro salute patriæ. Stout in the quarrell, or valiant for the safe⁓guard of his countrey. 1625Bacon 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. 1656T. 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. a1661Fuller Worthies, Westmorld. (1662) 136 That Stout Prelate who when the Scots invaded England,..utterly routed and ruined them. 1690Locke Educ. §96 (1693) 114 Some Men by the unalterable Frame of their Constitutions are Stout, others Timorous. 1727A. 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. 1842Borrow Bible in Spain xxvi. (Pelh. Libr.) 186 Legends the most wild are related of the manner in which the stout soldier fell. 1849Macaulay 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. 1890Conan Doyle White Company xxvii, I have heard that he is a very stout and skilful soldier.
absol.c1470Gol. & Gaw. 831 So sal ye stonay yone stowt, suppose he be strang.
†b. Hardy, strong in endurance. Obs.
1576J. 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. 1708J. 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.
1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 485 Sum stalwardly steppis ben, with a stout curage. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 238 b, Thys ende had the valiant hart and stoute courage of duke Charles of Burgoyn. 1663Butler Hud. i. ii. 299 Yet Talgol was of Courage stout, And vanquish'd oftner than he fought. 1781Cowper Expost. 358 To quell the valour of the stoutest heart. 1831Scott Jrnl. 9 Apr., Their courage is much stouter than I apprehended. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. II. i. ii, A man stout of heart. 1841Helps 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.
1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxiv. 152 Our men..made with the enimies a valyant and stout skirmish. 1587Fleming 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. 1595Shakes. John iv. ii. 173 When aduerse Forreyners affright my Townes With dreadfull pompe of stout inuasion. 1812Cary Dante, Parad. xii. 95 He..Smote fiercest, where resistance was most stout. 1858Carlyle Fredk. Gt. ii. x. (1865) I. 109 To the last they always made stout fight for themselves. 1890P. H. Hunter Story of Daniel i. 12 The Assyrian monarch offered a stout resistance.
†e. Strenuous, energetic. Obs.
1600Holland Livy vi. xxxiv. 241 L. Sextius, a stout young man [L. strenuo adolescente]. c1610Women Saints 175 The lawes which Salomon prescribeth to such a stoute and paynefull woman. 1635R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 59 He performed stout service. 1661Lowther in Extr. S.P. rel. Friends ii. (1911) 118 For the incourraginge all to be active and stowte in a tyme soe necessary. 1664H. 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). 1711Swift Jrnl. to Stella 10 Nov., Stella is naturally a stout walker, and carries herself firm.
†4.
a. Of persons: Firm in resolve, unyielding, determined. Obs. exc. as in d.
1568Grafton Chron. II. 58 He..with wordes of great consolation did courage him to be stoute in the quarrell he toke in hand. 1591Harington 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. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, i. iii. 340 Heere come my Executioners, How now my hardy stout resolued Mates, Are you now going to dispatch this thing? c1610Women Saints 100 She being but a girle receyued the faith of Christ, wherein she grew so feruent and stoute, that [etc.]. 1631Proverb in J. Done Polydoron 44, I stout and thou stout, who shall carry the Dirt out? 1639Fuller Holy War ii. xlv. (1640) 106 Askelon was stout, and would not surrender. 1711Swift 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. 1720–1Lett. 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. 1729Swift Poems, Grand Question 55 Madam, I always believ'd you so stout, That for twenty Denials you would not give out. 1815J. 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. 1815Wellington 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.
c1410Hoccleve Mother of God 82 Thogh that oure hertis steerne been & stoute. c1412― De Reg. Princ. 2639 Is non so good, as lat vs mollifie Our hertes stoute to his genterie. a1620J. Dyke Right Receiving (1640) 55 The stoutest, sturdiest, and most rebellious spirit that ever was. 1620Quarles Feast for Wormes Med. xi. I 2 b, Lord..Subdue our Passions, Curb our stout Affections. a1639W. Whately Prototypes i. xix. (1640) 194 If any of you have beene stoute against God Pharaoh-like, let him [etc.]. 1646Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 181 Y⊇ one being mild and tractable, y⊇ other stout, covetous, and impatient of a companion. 1788Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 301 The stout, the hard⁓hearted, will melt before you. a1834J. 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 demeanour: Resolute, defiant. arch.
1390Gower Conf. II. 378 Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, He herde noght bot wordes stoute. c1420? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 439 On a rewde maner he salutyd all the rout, With a bold voyse, carpyng wordys stout. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. vii, There was but little meekenesse, for there was stout and hard words on both sides. 1553Brende Q. Curtius B v, Hereupon Alexander with many stowte and dispiteful wordes, departed from his father. 1565T. Stapleton Fortr. Faith 102 This stoute assertion of that impudent frier. 1611Bible Mal. iii. 13 Your words haue bin stout against me, saith the Lord. 1634Peacham Compl. Gentl. i. (1906) 17 To these and such, I oppose Marius, and that stout reply of his in Salust. a1653Binning Common Princ. Chr. Relig. Wks. (1735) 37/2 It is not big and stout Words that will prove it. a1656Ussher Power Princes ii. (1683) 229 In the like manner Hosius, that old Confessor, beginneth his stout, but dutiful Letter which he wrote unto him. a1700Evelyn Diary 11 July 1691, This stout demeanor of the few Bishops who refus'd to take the oathes. 1729Tindal tr. Rapin's Hist. Eng. xvii. IX. 30 James returned a stout Answer, and vindicated himself for not having performed his Promise. 1810Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1836) VI. 207, I have a letter from the Governor of the 13th in which he holds stout language. 1868J. 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.
1586A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. (1595) 37 That which..there is none (were it the stoutest enemie that euer liued) but wil most highlie commend. a1661Fuller Worthies, Suffolk (1662) 57 Robert Grosthead..was a stout Opposer of Popish Oppression in the Land. 1835J. W. Croker in C. Papers 10 Mar. (1884) II. 267 His enemies are not very stout, and are united only on the one point of opposing him. 1850W. Irving Goldsm. xxxi. 302 Johnson, who was a stout unbeliever in Rowley. 1861Brougham Brit. Const. xi. 155 A claim admitted by even the stoutest advocates of the Romish Church. 1913Times 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.
1714Tyldesley Diary (1873) 147 Went a hunting to Sullum, and ffound ditto ffox... Had a noble chace, but he proved too stout and bette us quit outt. 1880‘Brooksby’ Hunting Countries ii. 195 The woodland foxes of course are stout; and they travel long distances before they die. 1894Pall 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.
1773Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. v. ii, Tony. Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say. 1796J. 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. 1833Q. 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. 1860Rous in Baily's Mag. I. 19 For the encouragement of the breed of strong stout horses. 1861J. 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. a. Strong in body; of powerful build. Now only U.S. dial.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 545 The Millere was a stout carl for the nones Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones. 1390Gower Conf. II. 244 Mars, which god of Armes was, Hath set two Oxen sterne and stoute. c1440Promp. Parv. 478/1 Stowt, or stronge, robustus. 1765Museum Rust. IV. 208 Our reaps are put by gatherers, women or stout boys, into sheets... Two stout men carry these. 1784Cowper Task i. 481 Till the stout bearers lift the corpse again. 1791Smeaton Edystone L. §297 The high wages we were obliged to give, to induce stout labourers to face the perils of the service. 1796Jane Austen Sense & Sens. xxxviii, They must get a stout girl of all works. 1800Med. Jrnl. IV. 222 He is tall, well proportioned, thin, but pretty stout for his years. 1804Ibid. XII. 114, I forgot to mention that this woman was suckling a stout boy, twelve months old. 1822Shelley Goethe's Faust ii. 2 Would you not like a broomstick? As for me I wish I had a good stout ram to ride. 1842Loudon 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. 1882‘Mark Twain’ Stolen White Elephant 269 Your word ‘stout’ means ‘fleshy’; our word ‘stout’ usually means ‘strong’. 1913Dialect Notes IV. 54 That calf's terrible stout; he pretty near pulled me all over the field. 1962W. Faulkner Reivers iv. 82 Let Lucius get out... He's younger than me and stouter too for his size.
b. In robust health, ‘strong’, esp. with reference to recovery from illness. Obs. exc. Sc.
1697J. 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. 1780S. 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. 1797H. 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. 1811Lady S. Lyttelton in Mrs. H. Wyndham Corr. (1912) 119 All this fine weather will help poor, dear old Granny Lucan to get stout again. 1813Ibid. 145 It being Sunday, and I feeling very stout, ventured out at noon. 1817M. Edgeworth Ormond vii, Then if you are quite stout again, I shall want you to row me across the lake. c1825Mrs. Cameron Houlston Tracts II. xxxiv. 4 The week after⁓wards, 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.’ 1838Whately in Life (1866) I. 417 We have been two months in England for J.'s health, who is better, though far from stout. 1844H. Heugh in Macgill Life xxiv. (1852) 431, I have not felt so stout for a great while, wind and weather notwithstanding. 1848Dickens Dombey viii, ‘The child is hardly,’ said Mr. Dombey, ‘as stout as I could wish.’ 1884A. S. Swan Carlowrie x. 162 Ye're no' lookin' very stoot, Mrs. Dalrymple,..I doot ye're workin' ower sair.
7. With reference to intensity or force.
†a. Of a wind: Strong. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 1981 A stithe man to the stere hade, & a stoute wynde, Were blouen to þe brode se in a bir swithe. 1533J. Heywood Play Wether (1903) 1089 A water-myller..sayde the wynde was so stout The rayne could not fale. 1670Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. i. (1694) 21 A stout gale and a great Sea.
†b. Of sound: Strong, harsh. Obs.
c1440York Myst. xix. 3 Stent of youre steuenes stoute. c1482J. Kay tr. 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. 1545Bale Image Both Ch. i. i. C iiij, A loud shyrle voyce..whiche was so vehement, and stought to my iudgement, as it had bene y⊇ noise of a great trompe. 1545R. 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.
1898Allbutt'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. a. Of buildings, rocks, trees, etc.: Capable of defying attack; strong.
c1400Destr. Troy 8388 The walles vp wroght on a wise faire With stones full stoute, stithest of vertue. c1600Shakes. Sonn. lxv. 7 When rocks impregnable are not so stout,..but Time decays? 1610― Temp. v. 45 To the dread ratling Thunder Haue I giuen fire, and rifted Ioues stowt Oke With his owne Bolt. 1909Q. Rev. Oct. 455 The stout dam with its marble bridge stood longer.
b. Of a ship: Strongly built; capable of bearing rough weather.
1622in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1908) II. 114 Hath made us promyse to furnishe three stoutt shippes. 1685Act 1 Jas. II, c. 18 Preamble, Where many stout Shipps were yearely built for the Coale and other Trade. a1700Evelyn Diary 6 Feb. 1652, I embark'd early in the packet⁓boat, but put my goods in a stouter vessell. 1779Hervey Nav. Hist. II. 165 A stout ship commanded by Cornelius Van Velsen blew up. 1788Gibbon Decl. & F. lxviii. VI. 488 Five stout and lofty ships were guided by skilful pilots. 1868Rep. Munitions War 266 We must be content with..a stout fighting ship, to the exclusion of a fast-sailing one.
c. Of a machine: Durably constructed, strong.
1702Lond. Gaz. No. 3819/8 Stout, able, Water Corn-Mills to be Sold, well customed, also fit for London-work. 1833J. 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.
1573–80Tusser Husb. (1878) 120 Now downe with the grasse vpon hedlonds about, that groweth in shadow, so ranke and so stout. 1791Cowper Yardley Oak 117 Yet is thy root..A quarry of stout spurs, and knotted fangs. 1841Florist's Jrnl. II. 2 The pistil is yellowish, with a shade of green and brown, and it is stout and fleshy. 1845Ibid. VI. 156 The plant is altogether of a much stouter habit, and is remarkable for the large size of the foliage. 1870Daily News 16 Apr., The oats are harvested, and in the next year the clover and grass are ‘stout’. 1882Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 16 The stouter species of the genus Spirogyra. 1882Garden 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.
1764Museum 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 n.2 Obs.
1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 242 The Wine..being of so stout a Body that it is not subject to decay presently. 1733W. 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. 1742London & Country Brew. i. (ed. 4) 22 For Stout Butt-beer. This is the strongest Butt-beer that is brewed from brown Malt. 1771Encycl. Brit. I. 669/2 For stout-beer is commonly drawn one barrel off a quarter of malt. 1818Maginn in Blackw. Mag. IV. 324 While we sung and we laugh'd, and the stout ale quaff'd. 1826Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 69 Stout ales..labour under one material want—that of spiritual vigour.
12. a. Of persons: Thick in the body, not lean or slender; usually in unfavourable sense, inclined to corpulence; often euphemistically = corpulent, fat.
1804Abernethy Surg. Observ. 94 A gentleman of a stout make, and about 40 years of age. 1807Med. Jrnl. XVII. 430 A short stout man. 1833Lytton Godolphin v, An old gentleman, of the age of sixty-three, in a bob-wig, and inclined to be stout. 1840Thackeray 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. 1845Budd Dis. Liver 166 Madame Mazet, æt. 34, of very strong constitution, and very stout. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xli, ‘She is stouter too, and altogether improved,’ continued Miss Rosalind, who was disposed to be very fat. 1856Compaing & 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. 1864Tennyson En. Ard. 747 Stout, rosy, with his babe across his knees. 1866Princess Alice Mem. (1884) 121 Uncle looks very well, but he grows very stout, I think. 1888M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. i, The gentleman was middle-aged and stout. 1892J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstr. 231 That young maidens, slim and shy, May grow old and stout and sly. 1899Lady 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.
1832J. Rennie Consp. Butterfl. & Moths 54. 1840 Macgillivray Man. Ornith. i. 114 Bill..moderately stout or rather slender. Ibid. 115 Feet rather stout. 1869E. Newman Brit. Moths 335.
c. stout party, a fat person (humorously). Esp. in catch-phrase collapse of stout party (see quot. 1975).
1855Punch 25 Aug. 80/1 (caption) Stout Party: Well, I'm sure! What can possess those skinny creatures to wear round hats, I can't think,—making themselves so conspicuous! 1949M. Allingham More Work for Undertaker vii. 102 ‘Do you will the stout party to give you the sixpences?’ he ventured. 1957R. G. C. Price Hist. Punch iii. 96 The florescence of the ‘collapse of stout party’ type of caption comes later [than the 1860s]. 1959[see pearly n. b]. 1975R. Pearsall Collapse of Stout Party 4 To many people Victorian wit and humour is summed up by Punch, when every joke is supposed to end with ‘Collapse of Stout Party’, though this phrase tends to be as elusive as ‘Elementary, my dear Watson’ in the Sherlock Holmes sagas.
13. a. Of a material object or substance: So thick as to be strong or rigid.
1765Museum 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. 1801J. Thomson Poems Sc. Dial. 25 I'd hang them in a gude stout tow, Wha are the wyte o't. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 209 On a stout board GH, are firmly jointed two uprights LM. 1825Scott Talism. i, A stout poniard. 1833J. 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. 1834McMurtrie Cuvier's Anim. Kingd. 313 The web of some exotic species is formed of such stout materials that it will arrest small Birds. 1847De Quincey Sp. Mil. Nun. v. 10 One stout needle. 1857Miller Elem. Chem., Org. 12 It is made of stout sheet-iron. 1859Jephson Brittany vi. 67 Those stout woollen petticoats. 1875Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. xiii. 196 Cut away the front of the pelvis with a stout pair of scissors. 1891Law Times XCII. 79/1 This almanack..is pasted on very stout cardboard. 1907J. A. Hodges Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6) 121 Strips of stout paper.
b. Of bacon: see quot. 1905.
1905W. 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. 1913Times 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, stout-bodied, stout-limbed, stout-minded, stout-sided, stout-soled, stout-winged, stout-worded adjs.; † stout-stomached a., high-spirited, obstinate. Also stout-hearted a.
1878E. 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].
1913Sir H. Johnston Pioneers Australasia v. 173 The people being very black, strong and *stout-limbed.
1830Scott Hrt. Midl. Introd., A little, rather *stout-looking woman.
1908W. R. Nicoll ‘Ian Maclaren’ ix. 169 The then Bishop of Liverpool, the *stout-minded English Evangelical, better known as J. C. Ryle.
a1612Ralegh Let. 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.
1891C. T. C. James Rom. Rigmarole 6 The Squire's were broad-welted, *stout-soled ones.
1549Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 57 He was a *stoute stomaked chyld. 1560Becon Catech. iv. Wks. I. 386 Howe earnestly that stout stomacked and couragious Matrone Iudith rebuked them for this theyr impaciency. 1626Maldon (Essex) Docum. Bundle 208. No. 9, A good stout-stomacked gelding, full of mettle.
1648J. Beaumont Psyche xxi. xvi, *Stout-winged Eagles ne'r were made to be Consorts to flitting Dunghil flies.
1863Athenæum 22 Aug. 234/2 The Judges were strong-minded and *stout-worded men.
B. adv.
a. = stoutly adv. Now rare. † to bear oneself stout: to behave haughtily or defiantly.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 296 A man þat beris him stoute, whan þat he suld bowe, In chance if þat he loute, he [etc.]. 1436Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 196 [England's] sonne wente aboute in alle the worlde stoute. c1470Gol. & Gaw. 78 Ane bright fyre couth he se Birnand full stout. 1581A. Hall Iliad ix. 152 In bloudie warre right stout thou playst. 1622Bacon Hen. VII, 55 [The French King's] Subiects..beare themselues stout vpon the strength of the Duke of Britaine. 1726Dyer Country Walk 11 A beautiful variety Of strutting cocks, advancing stout. 1863W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ii. 32 The pony..proved himself a good one, running very stout and fast.
b. Comb. with pa. pples.
1842S. Lover Handy Andy xii, A *stout-built peasant. 1890D. Davidson Mem. Long Life iv. 75 He was a short, stout-built man.
1595Daniel 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.].
1823Scott Quentin D. ii, His comrade was a *stout-formed, middle⁓sized man.
1820― Abbot xiv, The mock dignitary was a *stout-made, under-sized fellow.
▪ IV. stout, v.|staʊt|
[f. stout a.]
†1. intr. To be defiant; to act in a defiant or stubborn manner. Obs.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 3403 And ȝyf he yn folye begynne to stoute, Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute. Ibid. 10923 Lewed man, þou shalt cursyng doute, And to þy prest þou shalt nat stoute. c1330― Chron. Wace (Rolls) 6361 note, For Conan gan þat oþer rebuk, & reuiled [v.r. Conan stouted] hym wyþ wordes þore. 1583Golding Calvin on Deut. lxi. 366 They fall to stouting against him. 1616J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. vii. 193 His silken standard..which blazd a lion, pard, and prowlinge beare, in a feild gules. These on thigh bullwarcke stowted.
2. quasi-trans.
†a. to stout it = sense 1. Obs.
1570Marr. Wit & Sci. iv. i. C iij b, Nay you must stoute it, and face it out with the best. a1624Bp. M. Smith Serm. i. (1632) 5 For all our vilenesse..we will not be acknowne of it, but contrariwise stout it with him and beard him. Ibid. vii. 130 Others made it their care to strowt it, and to stout it, and to braue it in costly apparell. 1644Prynne Check to Britannicus 5 If they by his own sentence (though penitent) endured the halter, I am certaine he still stouting it, much more deserues the Axe. 1670T. Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 372 None stout it against Jesus Christ as hypocrites do.
b. to stout it out: to persist in a defiant attitude, e.g. when detected in a falsehood, or when hard pressed; to ‘brave it out’. Now rare.
a1639W. Whately Prototypes i. xi. (1640) 105 O that we could be so desirous of unity, not stouting it out as many do. 1644Prynne & Walker Fiennes' Trial 93 The Defendant was so far from this fault of stouting it out over-long; that he deserves to lose his head for yeelding Bristol up too soone. 1650Trapp Comm. Lev. xxvi. 23 The wicked refuse to receiv corrections:..they stout it out, and will not stoop. 1658W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. ii. verse 15. vi. §3. 366 He will not debase his Sovereignty to treat with a wretch that stands to his armes, and stouts it out with him. 1690C. Nesse Hist. & Myst. O. & N. Test. I. 145 They had stubbornly stouted it out with God. 1848Eliza Gurney in A. J. C. Hare Gurneys of Earlham (1895) II. 255 When..I saw William Forster standing at the hall-door, looking unutterably sad, I felt I could stout it out no longer, and completely broke down. 1897Advance (Chicago) 25 Mar. 372/1 Robins have either been belated or some of them determined upon stouting it out all the season through.
†c. to stout out: to ‘brazen out’ (a matter); to persist obstinately in the defence of (a besieged place). Obs.
1568Harding Detect. Errours Jewel's Def. 67 b, First he auoucheth his shamelesse lye boldly, as though where truth faileth, for shew of proufe, the matter might be stowted out. 1644Prynne & Walker Fiennes' Trial 93 That a French Author..affirmed; it was a capitall offence to stout out a place overlong.
d. To get (something) away from a person by importunity. rare—1.
1812Ht. Shelley Lett. (1889) 27 You can say you wish to look at them [Shelley's MS. Poems], and then you may be able to stout them away from him.
†3. trans. To defy. Obs.
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2948 But þere þe wyfe ys aboute Þe gode man for to stoute.
Hence † ˈstouting, vbl. n., boastfulness, pride, defiance.
1630I. C. Handkercher for Parents Wet Eyes 42 'Tis not stouting, and stomacke, and pettishnesse, but meekenesse, and patience, and humility, makes God propitious. |