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boisterous

 - 3 dictionary results

bois⋅ter⋅ous

  [boi-ster-uhs, -struhs]
Use boisterous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained: the sound of boisterous laughter.
2. (of waves, weather, wind, etc.) rough and stormy.
3. Obsolete. rough and massive.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME boistrous, var. of ME boistous crude, strong, fierce, gross; of obscure orig.

Related forms:
bois⋅ter⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
bois⋅ter⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. uproarious, obstreperous, roistering, loud, vociferous, impetuous. 1, 2. tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, wild.

Antonyms:
1, 2. calm, serene.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To boisterous
bois·ter·ous   (boi'stər-əs, -strəs)   
adj.  

  1. Rough and stormy; violent.

  2. Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline. See Synonyms at vociferous.


[Middle English boistres, variant of boistous, rude, rough, perhaps from Old French boisteus, lame, limping, from boiste, knee joint.]
bois'ter·ous·ly adv., bois'ter·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

boisterous 
1474, from boistous (c.1300), from Anglo-Fr. bustous "rough (road);" perhaps from O.Fr. boitous "noisy," or O.Fr. boisteus "curved, lame;" origin obscure. Originally "rough, coarse" (as of food); used of persons from 1568.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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