A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sturdy, -ie, adj. Also: sturdye, stourdy, sterdé. [ME and e.m.E. stourdy (1297), stordy (c1300), sturdy (Chaucer), OF estourdi, estordi, esturdi stunned, dazed, reckless, violent.]
1. Bold, courageous; powerful, strong. b. Strong; robust; healthy. c. specif. Describing (esp.) beggars and vagabonds: Healthy, robust, not crippled or otherwise disabled.(a) 1375 Barb. v 506.
He sa sturdy wes and stout That he wes the mast vorthy man That in-to Carrik liffit than 1375 Barb. xi 129.
Mony ane gayly armyt knycht, And mony ane sturdy sterand steid 1375 Barb. xviii 300.
A richt sturdy frer he sent Without the ȝet ?1438 Alex. i 1675.
Thay micht be numbred vij thousand, Armit, on hors … Thair micht na armour thame withstand … Thay war ane sturdie companie As of thair maner, sikkerlie 1456 Hay II 11/20.
A man … maist wise, maist stark and sturdy, and best of governaunce 1460 Hay Alex. 1193.
xxm thousand Of sturdie men on armit hors to ryde 1460 Hay Alex. 1562.
Ane sturdie knycht the comte Valerion Ane hardie man ane lord of gret valour 1460 Hay Alex. 3613.
The duke com formest … Ane forthy man ane stourdy and a stout a1500 Sir Eger 139.
He rode upon a sturdy steed, He let him come with all his speed [P. My steed seemed to his but a fole] 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 178.
I am sa hardy, sturdy, strang and stowt That owt of hell the divill I dar ding owt(b) 1513 Doug. i Prol. Contents (Ruddim.).
Throw the slauchter of Turnus sterde [C. stern, Sm. sterne] and stoutb. 1456 Hay I 195/30.
And he war stark and sturdy and mycht wele bere armes 1456 Hay II 11/27.
Syne thai inquerit … quhat beste was … maist stark and sturdy and maist swift rynnand and maist hable to mannis service c1475 Wall. ix 1927.
Wallace statur … Was jugyt thus … Braid breyst and heych, with sturdy crag and gret 1599 Dunblane Test. III 20.
Ane sturdie calff price xx s. 1642 Dumfries Test. I 110b.
Ane sturdie stirk 1669 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL 60.
She is a young sturdy susyc. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 213.
For … expelling of the sturdy stuburn beggaris 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 50.
Vnsuspect personis … to be distributit … for furthseiking the saidis sturdye beggerris 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 8.
Gryte confluence of purell resortis … to this toune, amangis quhom ar many sturdy beggaris 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 445.
Na vagabunds, idill persouns, sturdy beggares or vther insolent and wikket pepill 1589–90 St. A. B. Ct. 6 March.
Accusat as sturdie idle wagaboundis pykeris 1601–2 Irvine Mun. II 241.
Jonet Bukillis unlaw for resaveing of sturdie beggeris 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II 185.
It is hevilie compleinit by the inhabitantis of Zetland of the great resoirt and repair pairtlie of sturdie beggeris and pairtlie of puir vagabounds from Orkney 1617 Brechin Kirk S. 8 April.
The gryt resorting of uncouth and sturdie beggers to this citie 1618 Old Kirk Chron. 64.
[The distinction was a well-known one between beggars] sturdie [and] crepill 1641 Acts V 646/1.
That order may be taken with sturdie beggars … and a solid course be laid downe for removeing the horrible villanies committed be sic persones 1649 Lamont Diary 12.
Ane act of parliament, discharging the going vp and downe of sturdie beggars through this kingdome 1656 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 164.
That all sturdie beggars, both young and old, men and women, remove of this burghe 1698 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II 45.
2. Of a person's, army's, etc. demeanour, behaviour, actions, etc.: Bold, fierce, resolute. b. Of a person's pace: Vigorous.1375 Barb. ix 274.
Fell neuer men sa foule myschance Eftre sa sturdy contenance c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1313.
Thelamonyus … With proude wordis … Vlixes manassed and … Vlixes ȝeldit him … Siclyke mannasses with sturdy faire c1420 Wynt. v 2657.
Hys sone … That worthyt … off sa stowt and sturdy dede c1420 Wynt. viii 3506.
That the Barown off Staffwrde On hycht wyth a full sturdy wurde Bade stand a[nd] pwt c1420 Wynt. viii 6939 (C).
Be his sturdy contenynge He gert thaim al haf swylk dredynge c1475 Wall. ix 1418.
He salust thaim with sturdy contenance 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2458.
The lady … to the knicht with sturdie wordis culd say O ȝe auld fule, that suld be callit ane knichtb. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1362.
Off stature large, and with ane feirfull face Euin quhair I lay he come ane sturdie pace And said, ‘God speid, my sone’, and I wes fane Off that couth word, and off his cumpany
3. Of a stream, a storm, etc.: Powerful, fierce, violent. Also in fig. context.1375 Barb. iii 698.
And entryt sone in-to the rase, Quhar that the strem sa sturdy was 1567 G. Ball. 213.
The sturdie stormis he did indure 1570 Sat. P. xvii 138.
This realme, quhilk … With cruell weir and sturdie stormis fell
