boisterous
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:01 pm
by drsved
Any idea on where this comes from?
Re: boisterous
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 4:12 am
by Philip Hudson
I have no idea of the etymology of this word and
www.Etymonline.com gives little help.
Re: boisterous
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:31 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Here's the full treatment:
boisterous (adj.)
late 15c., unexplained alteration of Middle English boistous (c.1300) "rough, coarse (as of food), clumsy, violent," of unknown origin, perhaps from Anglo-French bustous "rough (road)," which is perhaps from Old French boisteos "curved, lame; uneven, rough" (Modern French boiteux), itself of obscure origin. Another guess traces it via Celtic to Latin bestia. Used of persons from 1560s. Related: Boisterously; boisterousness.