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  Stour

  noun

  a river in S England, in Kent, rising in the Weald and flowing N to the North Sea: separates the Isle of Thanet from the mainland

stour

American  

[stoor] / stʊər /

noun

1. British Dialect.

   1. tumult; confusion.

   2. a storm.

2. British Dialect. blowing dust or a deposit of dust.

3. Archaic. armed combat; battle.

4. British Dialect. a time of tumult.

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Stour ¹ British  

/ staʊə /

noun

1. Also called: Great Stour. a river in S England, in Kent, rising in the Weald and flowing N to the North Sea: separates the Isle of Thanet from the mainland

2. any of several smaller rivers in England

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stour ² British  

/ staʊə, stuːr /

noun

1. turmoil or conflict

2. dust; a cloud of dust

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Etymology

Origin of stour

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French estour battle < Germanic; akin to storm

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stour Stour

A single knight was doing battle with all them that would fain have entered into a ship, and held stour so stiffly against them that he toppled the more part into the sea.

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Sebastian Evans

Ther was never a freake wone foot wolde fle, but still in stour dyd stand, Heawyng on yche othar, whylle the myghte dre, with many a balfull brande.

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Frank Sidgwick

"I'm no settin' up a stour, am I?" the girl said.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 15, No. 89, May, 1875 by Various

“Hurrah!” shouted Bevis, dancing and singing: “Kyng Estmere threwe his harpe asyde, And swith he drew his brand; And Estmere he, and Adler yonge, Right stiffe in stour can stand!”

From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Richard Jefferies

"Weel, see that ye dinna set up a stour," Bell answered.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 15, No. 89, May, 1875 by Various

Helicopters, dog units and members of the public began scouring the area, close to the River Stour on the Suffolk-Essex border.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

A helicopter has been pictured flying over the scene, which is near the estuary of the River Stour and close to the Essex border.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Remaining flood alerts in the wider West Midlands on Thursday morning included the River Blythe in Warwickshire and the River Stour and Smestow Brook in the Black Country and south Staffordshire.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Only the River Stour in Suffolk and the River Thames in Oxfordshire had acceptable levels, while water quality at the 12 others was rated "poor" and people advised not to swim.

From BBC ● May 15, 2026

I got into conversation with a colour-sergeant of the Engineers, and learned these were the detachments who had been stationed at the bridges over the Stour.

From The Invasion by William Le Queux

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