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.

---

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

---

stour ² British  

/ staʊə, stuːr /

noun

1. turmoil or conflict

2. dust; a cloud of dust

---

Etymology

Origin of stour

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

Example Sentences

An awfu' fecht it was to see, A fecht baith fell an' dour, sirs, For ere the tuilzie weel began The glen was fu' o' stour, sirs.

From The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots by Rorie, David

Of a sooth stiff was the stour, for the Barons and theirs were hardy men and of great prowess, and were three to Sir Godrick's one.

From The Sundering Flood by Morris, May

And aye an' while we nearer draw To whaur the kirkton lies alaw, Mair neebours, comin' saft an' slaw Frae here an' there, The thicker thrang the gate an' caw The stour in air.

From Underwoods by Stevenson, Robert Louis

"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

“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 Jefferies, Richard