† boutefeun.
Obsolete.
An incendiary, a firebrand; one who kindles discontent and strife; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmfully mischievous person > [noun]
disturberc1290
troublera1382
distroublerc1440
disturblerc1440
boutefeu?1584
mischief1586
breed-bate1593
trouble-feast1603
flight-head1605
trouble-rest1605
trouble-house1608
trouble-cupa1610
trouble-state1609
seek-trouble1611
fling-brand1616
trouble-town1619
blow-coal1622
trouble-world1663
mischief-maker1675
fire-sprit1847
firebug1869
ratbag1890
disturbant1894
mixer1938
society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who
sower1380
firebranda1382
barratorc1430
makebate1529
bate-makera1564
mischief-master1567
boutefeu?1584
make-debate1588
breed-bate1593
kindle-fire1595
brew-bate1602
brand1608
fling-brand1616
make-strife1617
mischief-monger1620
blow-coal1622
kindle-coal1630
fire spirit1647
mischief-maker1675
mischief-doer1822
mixer1938
?1584 Let. Advice to Queen Elizabeth in J. Spedding Lett. & Life Bacon (1861) I. iii. 53 (modernized text) The Guiscards may hap to serve for boute-feux in Scotland.
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 68 A very Boutefeu.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 35 Close enemies of the Empire, and secret beutefeaus of rebellion.
1642 Observ. his Majesty's Answ. Declar. Parl. 12 Theeves and boutifures.
1656 J. Bramhall Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon iii. 138 Such Bigots and Bowtifeus.
1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety xix. 411 Lusts..are confestly the Boutefieus among us.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 529 He became..a great Boutifieu & firebrand in the Church.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. iii. ⁋106. 196 Factious Boutefews, Bawlers for Property & against Popery, etc.
1754 S. Richardson Corr. (1804) III. 106 The sanguine expectations of their boutefeu editor.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.?1584