Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Doughty

Dough′ty

(dou′ty̆)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Doughtier
(dou′tĭ-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Doughtiest
.]
[OE.
duhti
,
dohti
,
douhti
, brave, valiant, fit, useful, AS.
dyhtig
; akin to G.
tüchtig
, Dan.
dygtig
, Sw.
dygdig
virtuous, and fr. AS.
dugan
to avail, be of use, be strong, akin to D.
deugen
, OHG.
tugan
, G.
taugen
, Icel. & Sw.
duga
, Dan.
due
, Goth.
dugan
, but of uncertain origin; cf. Skr.
duh
to milk, give milk, draw out, or Gr.
τύχη
fortune. √68.]
Able; strong; valiant; redoubtable;
as, a
doughty
hero
.
Sir Thopas wex [grew] a
doughty
swain.
Chaucer.
Doughty
families, hugging old musty quarrels to their hearts, buffet each other from generation to generation.
Motley.
☞ Now seldom used, except in irony or burlesque.

Webster 1828 Edition


Doughty

DOUGHTY

,
Adj.
Douty. [G., L. See Decent.] Brave; valiant; eminent; noble; illustrious; as a doughty hero. It is now seldom used except in irony or burlesque.

Definition 2024


doughty

doughty

English

Adjective

doughty (comparative doughtier or more doughty, superlative doughtiest or most doughty)

  1. Brave; bold; courageous; valiant; intrepid; stouthearted; fearless.
    • 2014 November 14, Blake Bailey, “'Tennessee Williams,' by John Lahr [print version: Theatrical victory of art over life, International New York Times, 18 November 2014, p. 13]”, in The New York Times:
      [S]he [Edwina, mother of Tennessee Williams] was indeed Amanda [Wingfield, character in Williams' play The Glass Menagerie] in the flesh: a doughty chatterbox from Ohio who adopted the manner of a Southern belle and eschewed both drink and sex to the greatest extent possible.
  2. Hardy; strenuous; dauntless; resolute.

Derived terms

Translations