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Webster 1913 Edition

Sturdy

Stur′dy

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Sturdier
;
sup
erl.
Sturdiest
.]
[OE.
sturdi
inconsiderable, OF.
estourdi
stunned, giddy, thoughtless, rash, F.
étourdi
, p. p. of OF.
estourdir
to stun, to render giddy, to amaze, F.
étourdir
; of uncertain origin. The sense has probably been influenced by E.
stout
.]
1.
Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn; unrelenting; unfeeling; stern.
This
sturdy
marquis gan his hearte dress
To rue upon her wifely steadfastness.
Chaucer.
This must be done, and I would fain see
Mortal so
sturdy
as to gainsay.
Hudibras.
A
sturdy
, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps.
Atterbury.
2.
Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality;
as, a man of
sturdy
piety or patriotism
.
3.
Characterized by physical strength or force; strong; lusty; violent;
as, a
sturdy
lout
.
How bowed the woods beneath their
sturdy
stroke!
Gray.
4.
Stiff; stout; strong;
as, a
sturdy
oak
.
Milton.
He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather
sturdy
than dainty.
Sir H. Wotton.
Syn. – Hardy; stout; strong; firm; robust; stiff.

Stur′dy

,
Noun.
[OF.
estourdi
giddiness, stupefaction.]
(Vet.)
A disease in sheep and cattle, marked by great nervousness, or by dullness and stupor.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sturdy

STURDY

,
Adj.
[G., connected with; a stub.]
1.
Hardy; stout; foolishly obstinate; implying coarseness or rudeness.
This must be done, and I would fain see mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.
A sturdy hardened sinner advances to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first step.
2.
Strong; forcible; lusty; as a sturdy lout.
3.
Violent; laid on with strength; as sturdy strokes.
4.
Stiff; stout; strong; as a sturdy oak.
He was not of a delicate contexture, his limbs rather sturdy than dainty.

STURDY

,
Noun.
A disease in sheep, marked by dullness and stupor.

Definition 2024

Sturdy

Sturdy

See also: sturdy

English

Proper noun

Sturdy

  1. A surname​.

sturdy

sturdy

See also: Sturdy

English

Adjective

sturdy ‎(comparative sturdier, superlative sturdiest)

  1. Of firm build; stiff; stout; strong.
    a sturdy oak tree
    • Sir H. Wotton
      He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty.
  2. Solid in structure or person.
    It was a sturdy building, able to withstand strong winds and cold weather.
    The dog was sturdy and could work all day without getting tired.
  3. (obsolete) Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn.
    • Hudibras
      This must be done, and I would fain see / Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.
    • Atterbury
      A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps.
  4. Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality.
    a man of sturdy piety or patriotism

Translations

Noun

sturdy ‎(uncountable)

  1. A disease in sheep and cattle, marked by great nervousness, or by dullness and stupor.

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 “sturdy” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
  2. ↑ OED
  • sturdy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Etymology

Circa 1300, in sense “unruly, reckless, violent”, from Old French estourdi, form of estourdir, originally “to daze, to make tipsy (almost drunk)” (Modern French étourdir ‎(“to daze, to make tipsy”)), from Vulgar Latin *exturdire. Latin etymology is unclear – presumably it is ex- + turdus ‎(“thrush (bird)”), but which this should mean “daze” is unclear.[1] A speculative theory is that thrushes eat leftover winery grapes and thus became drunk, but this meets with objections.[2]

Disease in cows and sheep is by extension of sense of “daze”, while sense of “strongly built” is of late 14th century,[1] and relationship to earlier sense is less clear, perhaps from sense of a firm strike (causing a daze) or a strong, violent person.

Pronunciation

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