stout

¹

[stout]

adjective

stouter, stoutest 

1. bulky in figure; heavily built; corpulent; thickset; fat.

   She is getting too stout for her dresses.

   Synonyms: fleshy, portly, stocky, rotund, big
   Antonyms: skinny, slim, slender, lean, thin, scrawny

2. bold, brave, or dauntless.

   a stout heart; stout fellows.

   Synonyms: courageous, indomitable, fearless, intrepid, gallant, valiant
   Antonyms: fearful, timid, cowardly, craven, timorous

3. firm; stubborn; resolute.

   stout resistance.

   Synonyms: stanch, steadfast, indomitable, obstinate

4. forceful; vigorous.

   a stout argument; a stout wind.

   Synonyms: violent, sharp, intense

5. strong of body; hearty; sturdy.

   stout seamen.

   Synonyms: robust, husky, strapping, sinewy, brawny

6. having endurance or staying power, as a horse.

   Synonyms: steady, stalwart

7. strong in substance or body, as a beverage.

   Antonyms: flat, bland, tasteless, weak

8. strong and thick or heavy.

   a stout cudgel.

noun

1. a dark, sweet brew made of roasted malt and having a higher percentage of hops than porter.

2. porter of extra strength.

3. a stout person.

4. a garment size designed for a stout man.

5. a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in this size.

Stout

²

[stout]

noun

1. Rex (Todhunter) 1886–1975, U.S. detective novelist.

2. Robert, 1844–1930, New Zealand jurist and statesman: prime minister 1884–87.

stout

¹

/ staʊt /

adjective

1. solidly built or corpulent

2. (prenominal) resolute or valiant

   stout fellow

3. strong, substantial, and robust

4. courage; resolution

noun

1. strong porter highly flavoured with malt

Stout

²

/ staʊt /

noun

1. Sir Robert. 1844–1930, New Zealand statesman, born in Scotland: prime minister of New Zealand (1884–87)

Other Word Forms

• stoutly adverb
• stoutness noun
• overstout adjective
• overstoutly adverb
• overstoutness noun
• unstout adjective
• unstoutly adverb
• unstoutness noun
• stoutish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stout¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective stute, from Old French estout “bold, proud,” from Germanic; compare Middle Dutch stout “bold,” Middle Low German stolt, Middle High German stolz “proud”

Word History and Origins

Origin of stout¹

C14: from Old French estout bold, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German stolz proud, Middle Dutch stolt brave

Synonym Study

Stout, fat, plump imply corpulence of body. Stout describes a heavily built but usually strong and healthy body: a handsome stout lady. Fat, an informal word with unpleasant connotations, suggests an unbecoming fleshy stoutness; it may, however, apply also to a hearty fun-loving type of stout person: a fat old man; fat and jolly. Plump connotes a pleasing roundness and is often used as a complimentary or euphemistic equivalent for stout, fleshy, etc.: a pleasingly plump figure attractively dressed.

Example Sentences

But the Trojan walk-on was totally neutralized by Oregon’s stout defensive front.

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Too, in his current state, Quinzy hardly resembled the stout, silver-haired Edward Ashton who gazed forbiddingly from the portrait that hung not ten feet away.

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Beowulf said, confused, for the shape was fairly stout, although, to be fair, not nearly as stout as a steam engine would be, and of course there were no train tracks running along the path.

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Mrs. Clarke was a sturdy sort of woman, stout in both build and character, and yet there was a wobble of fear in her voice as she answered her mistress.

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The Colts have an outstanding running game, a stout offensive line, and a quarterback in Daniel Jones who has reinvented himself.

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Related Words

• hulking 
• indomitable 
• muscular 
• staunch 
• sturdy 
• tenacious 
• vigorous