I. ˈsteu̇t noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stūt; probably akin to Old Norse stūtr horn, stump, ox — more at stot
dialect Britain : horsefly
II. ˈstau̇t, usu -au̇d.+V adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French estout bold, proud, arrogant, powerful, silly, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Low German stolt proud, arrogant, stately, Middle High German stolz proud, arrogant, stately, Middle Dutch stolt, stout bold, brave, and probably to Old High German stelza stilt — more at stilt
1.
a. obsolete : fierce , menacing
b. archaic : displaying insolent conceit : arrogant , haughty
as stout and proud as he were lord of all — Shakespeare
2. : characterized by physical or moral bravery : courageous , valiant
proves himself a stout fellow in battle
pioneers with strong backs and stout hearts
3.
a. archaic : expressive of opposition : defiant , hostile
stout demeanor of the few bishops who refused to take the oaths — John Evelyn
b. archaic : unalterably set : obstinate , stubborn
his old stout will and hardened heart — J.H.Newman
c. : perseveringly resolute : firm , staunch
a stout pillar of the … church — S.H.Holbrook
d. : relentlessly harsh : implacable
has now become a stout foe of backsliders
4.
a. : physically strong : lusty , powerful
the stout vigorous frame … fitted the peasant-preacher for the hard life he had chosen — J.R.Green
b. : sturdily constructed : durable , solid
their feet were protected by stout boots — F.V.W.Mason
stout wooden barricades … have been built across the streets — Mollie Panter-Downes
c. : full of energy : vigorous , forceful
a stout tail wind was giving a friendly boost — W.D.Patterson
the nation is safer with stout criticism going on in Washington — New Republic
d. : physically healthy : hearty , robust
are you stout enough to be the general nurse — Charles Lamb
e. : resistant to stress or pressure : tough , rigid
a few yards of stout rope for towing purposes — American Guide Series: Arizona
room, within the stout framework of routine, for more individual whim — Joyce Cary
5.
a. : large in diameter — used of a plant or its parts
a small tree with stout spreading branches — W.C.L.Muenscher
b. : having body or substance — used especially of liquor
stout homemade beer — American Guide Series: Texas
c. : excessively fat : corpulent , portly
a big stout woman with … an enormous bosom — Arnold Hill
d. : broad in proportion to length — used of an animal or its parts
the vertebrae were stout with slightly biconcave ends — W.E.Swinton
e. : of bulky proportions : heavy , thick
this stout volume of over 400 pages — R.J.Cruikshank
Synonyms: see fat , strong
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from stout, adjective
archaic : stoutly
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English stouten, from stout, adjective
: to maintain a resolute or defiant attitude — usually used in the phrase to stout it out
a fool to resign … he should have stouted it out — Margaret Todd
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: stout (II)
1. : a heavy-bodied brew that is darker and sweeter than porter and is made with roasted malt and a relatively high percentage of hops
2.
a. : a fat person
the genial stout who sang — Bennett Cerf
b. : a clothing size designed for the large figure
men's suits are available in longs, shorts, regulars, and stouts — Women's Wear Daily