stour

1 of 2

adjective

ˈstu̇r 

1

chiefly Scotland : strong, hardy

2

chiefly Scotland : stern, harsh

stour

2 of 2

noun

1

a

archaic : battle, conflict

b

dialectal British : tumult, uproar

2

chiefly Scotland : dust, powder

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English stor, from Old English stōr; akin to Old High German stuori large, Russian staryĭ old, Old English standan to stand

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French estur, estour, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German sturm storm, battle — more at storm

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Geographical Definition

Stour

geographical name

ˈstu̇r  ˈstau̇r 

ˈstau̇-ər,

ˈstȯr;

 specific variants can be found at senses below 

1

ˈstu̇r  river 47 miles (76 kilometers) long in southeastern England flowing east between Essex and Suffolk into the North Sea

2

ˈstau̇r 

ˈstu̇r

river 55 miles (88 kilometers) long in Dorset and Hampshire, southern England, flowing southeast into the Avon River

3

or Great Stour

ˈstu̇r,

also

ˈstau̇(-ə)r 

river 40 miles (64 kilometers) long in Kent, southeastern England, flowing northeast into the North Sea

4

ˈstau̇(-ə)r 

ˈstȯr

river 20 miles (32 kilometers) long in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, central England, flowing northwest into the Avon River

5

ˈstau̇(-ə)r 

ˈstȯr

river 20 miles (32 kilometers) long in west central England flowing south into the Severn River