sturdy

From Middle English sturdy, stourdy, stordy (“bold, valiant, strong, stern, fierce, rebellious”) (perhaps influenced by Middle English sture, stoure, stor (“strong, robust, harsh, stern, violent, fierce, sturdy”); see English stour), from Old French estourdi (“dazed”), form of estourdir, originally “to daze, to make tipsy (almost drunk)” (Modern French étourdir (“to daze, to make tipsy”)), from Vulgar Latin *exturdire. Latin etymology is unclear – presumably it is ex- + turdus (“thrush (bird)”), but how this should mean “daze” is unclear.[1] A speculative theory is that thrushes eat leftover winery grapes and thus became drunk, but this meets with objections.[2]

Disease in cows and sheep is by extension of sense of “daze”, while sense of “strongly built” is of late 14th century,[1] and relationship to earlier sense is less clear, perhaps from sense of a firm strike (causing a daze) or a strong, violent person.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstɜː.dɪ/

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)di

sturdy (comparative sturdier, superlative sturdiest)

1. Of firm build; stiff; stout; strong.

   a sturdy oak tree

   • Sir H. Wotton

     He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty.

2. Solid in structure or person.

   It was a sturdy building, able to withstand strong winds and cold weather.

   The dog was sturdy and could work all day without getting tired.

3. (obsolete) Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn.
   • Hudibras

     This must be done, and I would fain see / Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.

   • Atterbury

     A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps.

4. Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality.

   a man of sturdy piety or patriotism

• hardy

sturdy (uncountable)

1. A disease in sheep and cattle, caused by a tapeworm and marked by great nervousness or by dullness and stupor.

• gid

• sturdied

• sturdy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.