stout

Etymology 1

From Middle English stoute, from Old French estout (“brave, fierce, proud”) (Modern French dialectal stout (“proud”)), from earlier Old French estolt (“strong”), from Frankish *stolt, *stult (“bold, proud”), from Proto-Germanic *stultaz (“bold, proud”), from Proto-Indo-European *stel- (“to put, stand”). Cognate with Dutch stout (“stout, bold, naughty”), Low German stolt (“stately, proud”), German stolz (“proud, haughty, arrogant, stately”), Old Norse stoltr (“proud”) (Danish stolt (“proud”), Icelandic stoltur (“proud”)). Meaning "strong in body, powerfully built" is attested from c.1386, but has been to a large extent displaced by the euphemistic meaning "thick-bodied, fat and large," which is first recorded 1804. Original sense preserved in stout-hearted (1552). The noun "strong, dark-brown beer" is first recorded 1677, from the adjective.

adj

1. Large; bulky.
2. (obsolete) Bold, strong-minded.
   The lords all stand / To clear their cause, most resolutely stout. 1609, Samuel Daniel, The Civile Wares
3. (obsolete) Proud; haughty.
   Commonly […] they that be rich are lofty and stout. 1552, Hugh Latimer, The Fifth Sermon Preached on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, 1552
4. Firm; resolute; dauntless.
   he had reason to be extremely grateful to Sterling, his Manchester City teammate, who won and converted the penalty that appeared to have broken Iceland’s stout resistance. 5 September 2020, David Hytner, “Raheem Sterling keeps his cool to see off Iceland amid blaze of late drama”, in The Guardian
   So, Andover featured in the Glorious Revolution, which involved the deposition of Catholic fraterniser James II and his replacement by stout Protestants William and Mary. June 28 2023, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: Alton to Exeter”, in RAIL, number 986, page 58
5. Materially strong, enduring.
   Campers prefer stout vessels, sticks and cloth.
   Nothing could be more business-like than the construction of the stout dams, and nothing more gently rural than the limpid lakes, with the grand old forest trees marshalled round their margins … . 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad
6. Obstinate.

noun

1. (beer) A dark and strong malt brew made with toasted grain.
   Coordinate term: porter
   Stout is darker, stronger and sweeter than porter beer.
2. An obese person.
   Incidentally the survey pointed up the sad plight of the stylish stouts, today's “forgotten men.” The clothing situation is getting so critical for them that they may have to choose between eating and dressing. 1946, Printers' Ink
3. A large clothing size.
   1918, Isidor Rosenfeld, The Practical Designer for Women's and Misses' Underwear - The Study of the Stout Form The all-around waist is increased or over-built, according to size, which makes this form a stout.

Etymology 2

From Middle English stouten, from the adjective (see above).

verb

1. (intransitive, archaic) To be bold or defiant.
2. (transitive, dialectal) To persist, endure.

Etymology 3

From Middle English stout, from Old English stūt (“gnat; midge”).

noun

1. Gnat.
2. Gadfly.
3. (dialectal) Firefly or miller (moth).