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Origin and history of boisterous

boisterous(adj.)

late 15c., boistreous, "rough, coarse," an unexplained alteration of Middle English boistous (c. 1300) "rough, coarse, clumsy, violent," which itself is of unknown origin, perhaps from Anglo-French bustous "rough (road)," itself 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.

Of persons, "turbulent, clamorous," 1560s; OED says originally "in a distinctly bad sense," but by 1680s gradually passing into "abounding in rough but good-natured activity bordering upon excess." Related: Boisterously; boisterousness.

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