Middle English Dictionary Entry
boistǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | boistǒus adj. Also buistous, bust-, bost-, boistus, -os, -eys, -ez, bustes, -ious, -eous, -uous, -wys & (error) bristous. |
| Etymology | OF boisteus limping; rough, ?noisy. In ME the word was first applied to manners and other personal characteristics; it became fashionable c1390, along with the synonym rūde. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons or their behavior: lacking in polish, learning, skill, or experience; crude, unmannerly, awkward; unlearned, unskilled, ignorant; artless, simple, humble; of an animal: simple; (b) of speech or style: rude, harsh; unpolished, artless; unpretentious, simple; of weeping: noisy, loud; (c) of an art: crude.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)273 : Men cleopeden him [St. Francis] hoxtare oþur cheorl..For port Men beoth ofte boistouse..bi wone.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)103 : We þet byeþ greate an boystoyse to spekene of zuo heȝe þinge, speke we of god zuo ase we conne deuisi ane man of huam me ne kan naȝt his name.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.311 : Of men þat were vnkonnynge and boistous [Higd.(2): rude] as bestes, he made konnynge and wise men.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.345 : Saturnus..tauȝte boistous men to bulde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.211 : I am a boystous man; right thus seye I, Ther nys no difference trewely Bitwix a wyf that is of heigh degree, If of hir body dishoneste she be, And a poure wenche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)335b/a : This þat we haueþ schortliche y plaunted here..be ynow at þis tyme..to þe boystouse and to the smale, þat beþ yliche to me in crist.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)911 : Þaȝ I be bustwys as a blose, Let my bone vayl neuerþelese.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Par.13.7 : Roboam was buystuouse ether fonne [WB(1): rude], and of feerdful herte.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.3.6 : It bihouys a bisschop to be..Not a neophite, þat is to sey, buystous or newe turned.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)13/9 : I fynde in my boistous beholdyng foure degrees & fourmes of Cristen mens leuyng.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)103 : Men of rude and bustous condiciouns and of symple lynage.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)323 : Clerkis þat don euyl..ben sly or sotel heretikis..worldly lordis þat don wrong..ben rude or boistouse heretikis.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)3/24 : Ne to grete devyens..bot vnto boystus & vntaght.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)13/16 : Wyth plentyouws teerys and many boystows sobbyngys for hir synnes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)199/17 : Sche had þes myndys..wyth profownde teerys, syhyngys, & sobbyngys, & sumtyme wyth gret boistows cryingys.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.129r : His sones also let he so enfourme that they nere as bustes and vplondyssh.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)9 : Thei schulden not be so blunt and so ruyde and vnformal and boistose in resonyng.
- a1450 If þou serue (Sln 2593)p.255 : If thou serue a lord of prys, Be not to boystous in thin seruys.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)73/10 : Ma dame..I am so fonde and bustus that noon deynes to loue me.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)81 : The boystous asse, the oxe in his manere Did hym worchipe be contenaunce and chere.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)229/3 : Loke thu fellaship the nat with fooles ne boystous people, but be alleweyes in the felaship of hem that can more good than thiself.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)72/22 : Thou arte a boysteous man and an unlyckly to telle of suche dedis.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)introd.p.xiv : Fischers and buystouse men..founden Crist, whom prestis, studiynge al day in goddis law, founden not.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)14/405 : The bocher was a man of myȝt..Þawȝ he were boystous of syȝt, He hadde greet strength.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)149/17 : For bostious [vr. boustyous], loude, and vnredy, hadd grete nede to be..y-kepete throgh wysmen and redy.
- a1500 Rolle Mend.L.(Wor F.172)46 : Thow art prowde and buystous and stierne; they forsoth wern louly and meke.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Jer.(Dc 369(1))342 : Jeremye..is seen to ben booistousere than the sermoun of Isaie..but the symplenesse of speche fel to hym of the place in whiche he was born.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188b/b : More..boysteys of langage and tonge [L idiomatis magis grossi] þan oþere naciouns of ffraunce.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)335b/a : What I haue y take is symple and boystouse: but I holde þey ben goode and profitable to me þat am boystous.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)101/22 : Ȝif he þat haþ a pleyn & an open boystous voice by kynde speke hem poerly & pypyngly..þan it is a verrey token of ypocrisie.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)401 : Ful ruyde and ful boistose and ful vnfitting to hem þat myȝte do bettir, is þis maner of preiyng.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)253/25 : Thu oughtest to loue bettir the boystous & true wordes..thanne the sweete wordes that bene medled with..flaterye.
- c1475 Babies' Bk.(Hrl 5086)195 : Withe-oute lauhtere, Iapynge, or boystous worde, Ryse vppe, and goo vnto youre lordis borde.
- a1500 Prayer in Laudate (1935) (Tit C.19)38 : Englysche is so boystous of it silfe þat elles it wille be fulle vnsauery for to rede.
- ?a1500(a1471) Brut-1461(2) (Lyell 34)64 : With boistez langage, and also for abriggyng of thair wagez, he fil in variaunce with thaym.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)1/7 : Rude wordes and boystous percen the herte of the herer to the inrest point.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)4a/b : Jamerius..made a boystouse [OF brutale] or beestly cirurgie in þe whiche be namede many lewede þinges.
2.
Of persons (and animals) or their actions: (a) strong, stout; vigorous, powerful; (b) violent, fierce; cruel, brutal, vicious; (c) shrewd, crafty; ?stubborn.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)672 : Ho-so hath of þe eorþe mest, he is slouȝ ase þe Asse, Of..boistous fourme and ded strong.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)353/5 : In a strong man & in a boistous man þou miȝt worche at oonys þat þou muste worche at manye tymes in a feble man.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)615 : Sexty geauntes..Myghte no blonkes them bere, thos bustous churlles.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)51 : Leomedon..sent bostus mesangers to voyde theyme of the lond.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.56va : See what I shal doo to Pharao: by strong hande he shal late you goo, and in a boystous [Vulg.Exod.6.1: in manu robusta] he shal caste you fro his land.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)94 : A Bore com from A bank, wondirly boistous, And Fought sore with hym.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5651 : Hij ben ycloþed..Jn golde and siluer..Jt is boystous folk naþelas, Michel folk and griselich of faas.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4577 : Hiȝe of stature & boistous in a prees.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)56a/b : Rigidus: boystouse, hastyfe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2271 : To haue aboute hym, ageyn skele and riht, Boistous bocheris, al bespreynt with blood.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)775-83 : A blake bustous bere..With..paumes full huge..To bataile he bounnez hym with bustous clowez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2425 : They..Bekyrs at the bolde kynge with boustouse lates.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3762 : With þat boystous brayde he bownes hym to dye.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)199 : I chocke on my chynne, I am boystows & bold as Belyal þe blake.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)4280 : Suffre we may vs noght to stere Ageyns this boistous ost here; Thei be develles.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)17 : The ladis..rane away for the hidos fere of tho boistous and merciles men of armes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.251 : Nemproth, the bostuous [L robustus] oppressor of men.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.291 : Þe men [of Picardy]..beeþ boistous men of dedes [L gens astuta] and gretter specheþ þan oþer men of Fraunce.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)33/17 : Hir mayden..wex boystows a-ȝens hir maystres. Sche wold not obeyn ne folwyn hir cownsel.
3.
Of the sea, wind, thunder: fierce, turbulent; roaring (waves, flames), howling (wind), etc.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3389 : Þei gan to seile..Þe water calme..With-oute trouble of any boystous wawe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2676 : Thei may weel up ascende, Lik wyndi smokes ther boistous fumys spreede: A crownid asse..is mor for to dreede Than is a leoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3456 : The rethoricien..Mut seeke weies..Of old rancour tappese the boistous thonder.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)889 : In the tyme of wynter..Whan boistous wyndes put seemen into fere.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)912/5 : He saw the watir so boysteous, he doutted to passe over hit.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)20a : To be Bustus: rudere.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.94 : That wordly wyndis, boystust in blowyng, Ne may not quenche the lyght of hor schynyng.
4.
Of things: big, sturdy, coarse; big (blossoms); huge (cross, nail); clumsy (shoes); sturdy (ship, weapon, etc.); coarse (fabric); rough, coarse (food).
Associated quotations
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)42/33 : Wiþ comuyn metes and boystous Heo hem norissched..For þei schulde not aftur ben aferd, Hardnes to soffre in desert.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)814 : For vus he lette hym flyȝe and folde And brede vpon a bostwys bem.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.9.16 : No man putteth a clout of buystous clothe [L panni rudis] in to an elde clothing.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)20a : Þai beþ more and þes haþe a more bustous flour..and hit berith grete bayes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)191/19 : [The cross] was so heuy & so boystows þat vnethe he myth bere it.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)380 : Seynt cycile..Wered next his skyn a hayir ful boystous.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2175 : The boustous launce þe bewells attamede.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.544 : Owt he sprang, As fyr Offe brond, With a boystous Tool In his hond.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2139 : Þerfor, boy, with þi boystous blad, fare a-wey be feldys ferne!
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)51/7 : Þey most ben vsed to scarste of mete and drynke, þat is to say, to schorte and scharpe meles and to boystous [vrr. bustious, bowystes; L rustico] metis among.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)920 : Shippes..Grete and huge..The cronicle seyth these shippes were full boisteous; Suche thinges longen to kynges victorious.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)77 : Ther is also a nayle with whech our lord was fast to þe crosse; it is a grete boistous þing of too handful long.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)42 : He come to hem like a begger, with boustouse shone on his feet and in a cote al to rente.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)168 : The cherll hadde on grete boysteis shone of netes leder.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)254/320 : This cros is large in lengthe and also bustus with all.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)84/19 : These robis schullen be of buystouse cloþe & low prise.
- a1500 12 PTrib.(2) (Rwl C.894)402 : As metall in a boystous gobette.
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)131 : Whan thou wentyst nere to þe crosse and ther on fastened with boystous nayles.
5.
Phys. & physiol. Partaking of, or dominated by, the 'element' earth; gross, coarse; opaque (object); 'earthy' or crude (sense); 'thick' (blood).
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)26a/a : Þe tast is more boistous & þicke þan þe smel, as moche as fumosite is more sotile þan watir.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)26a/b : Þe wit of gropinge..is most erþeliche and boistous.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)33b/b : Þe blood þat is in þe veynes is hote and moist, mene bitwene boistous & sotil.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200a/b : Iren is y gendred of quik siluer þikke..and brymston grete and boystous, and nouȝt pure.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)202b/a : Melochites is a grene stoon liche to smaragdus, but it is more boistous grene þan smaragdus.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)306b/a : Som suche letteþ al passage of sight..as boystous stones, trees & metalle.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)25 : While we be in this bustous body lyuynge here in erthe.
6.
As noun: one who limps.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)108 : I hatte Peresce, the goutous, the encrampised, the boistous, the maymed.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)114 : The halte, the boistouse..the embosede, the maymede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)152 : At a molle hille, j stumblede..Boistows j am and haltinge..to the virly j go hippinge..
Note: New (additional) gloss for sense 6.
Note: Revised gloss for sense 6.: "Limping, halt; also as noun: one who limps."
Note: ?In sense 4., the variant form bristous in the a1450 Vegetius(1) quot. may belong to boistreǒus adj.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.7vb (1.3) : This ieiune is globbede and rounde and bostuse.
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify gloss of sense 4. or 5. Editor's gloss: 'of an organ: rough-textured'.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.12vb (1.4) : Schaggyng and bostouse tretyng may cause droblyhede and þikhede.
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: 'of motion: rough, vigorous'.