boisterous

[ boi-ster-uhs, -struhs ]

/ ˈbɔɪ stər əs, -strəs /

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adjective

rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained: the sound of boisterous laughter.

(of waves, weather, wind, etc.) rough and stormy.

Obsolete. rough and massive.

Nearby words

Origin of boisterous

1425–75; late Middle English boistrous, variant of Middle English boistous crude, strong, fierce, gross; of obscure origin

SYNONYMS FOR boisterous

1. uproarious, obstreperous, roistering, loud, vociferous, impetuous. 1, 2. tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, wild.

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ANTONYMS FOR boisterous

1, 2. calm, serene.

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Related forms

bois·ter·ous·ly, adverbbois·ter·ous·ness, nounun·bois·ter·ous, adjectiveun·bois·ter·ous·ly, adverb

un·bois·ter·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for boisterous

This is not the boisterous version of Pacino, the one we saw as Tony Montana in Scarface or as Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman.
Al Pacino Does What He Wants to Do: 'The Humbling,' Scorsese, and That 'Scarface' Remake|Alex Suskind|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those who were part of the original Area scene remember a boisterous party.
Bright Lights, Big Club: Remembering the Crazy, Fabulous Nightclub Area|Ann Binlot|November 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Prescriptivist grammarians will have a boisterous time reading Taipei.
The Gpistolary Novel: Tao Lin’s ‘Taipei’|Emily Witt|June 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Australian filmmaker Luhrmann, best known for the boisterous Bohemian musical Moulin Rouge!
The Great Gatsby, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Is a Relentless Assault on the Senses|Marlow Stern|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Convivial by nature, he not doubt joined in when others were celebrating, allowing his boisterous high spirits free rein.
What Mozart Really Looked Like: 14 Portraits of the Composer (Photos and Music)|The Daily Beast|February 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The clown, by boisterous and often indecorous jest, raises peals of merriment.
A Civil Servant in Burma|Herbert Thirkel White
A rainy and boisterous night was succeeded by a bright and beautiful morning.
Wild Wales|George Borrow
At this moment the stately cavalier reached the hunting-party, returned their boisterous greetings, and halted close to them.
'Midst the Wild Carpathians|Mr Jkai
The vessels experienced foul weather, boisterous winds, and a heavy sea.
Celebrated Travels and Travellers|Jules Verne
The air was "shrewd and biting," and we had some boisterous north winds which chilled me to the marrow.
In the Russian Ranks|John Morse

British Dictionary definitions for boisterous

boisterous

/ (ˈbɔɪstərəs, -strəs) /

adjective

noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly

(of the wind, sea, etc) turbulent or stormy

Derived Formsboisterously, adverbboisterousness, noun

Word Origin for boisterous

C13 boistuous, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for boisterous

boisterous

adj.

late 15c., unexplained alteration of Middle English boistous (c.1300) "rough, coarse (as of food), clumsy, violent," of unknown origin, perhaps from Anglo-French bustous "rough (road)," which is perhaps from Old French boisteos "curved, lame; uneven, rough" (Modern French boiteux), itself of obscure origin. Another guess traces it via Celtic to Latin bestia. Used of persons from 1560s. Related: Boisterously; boisterousness.

boisterous

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of boisterous

Examples from the Web for boisterous

boisterous

adjective

Word Origin for boisterous

boisterous