adj
Uncommon
stout
stowt
Stout (adj) means Solidly built; somewhat fat. Example: “The stout old farmer had hands like shovels.”
adj
1
Solidly built; somewhat fat.
"The stout old farmer had hands like shovels."
2
Brave and firm in spirit.
"She put up stout resistance against the takeover."
noun
1
A dark, strong beer made with roasted malt.
"He ordered a pint of stout at the pub."
How to use stout
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither bodily thickset, or firm and determined in spirit — and separately, a strong dark beer like Guinness.
Common mistake
Calling someone "stout" about their build is a softer, more polite word than "fat", not an insult.
Common pairings
stout defence
stout resistance
pint of stout
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Word forms
- Plural
- stouts
- Third person singular
- stouts
- Past tense
- stouted
- Comparative
- stouter
- Superlative
- stoutest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ old farmer had hands like shovels.
Etymology
From Old French estout ("brave, proud"), from Frankish stolt, ultimately from a root meaning "bold, proud". The original sense was about courage; the meaning shifted to "thickset, fat" as a politer way of describing size, from around 1804.
Class of 1804
stout joined the language around 1804.
See the full Class of 1804 →
Related words
Rhymes for stout
See all rhymes for stout →Frequently asked questions
What does “stout” mean?
The word “stout” means solidly built; somewhat fat. In plain terms, either bodily thickset, or firm and determined in spirit — and separately, a strong dark beer like Guinness.
How do you pronounce “stout”?
“Stout” is pronounced stowt (/staʊt/ in IPA).
How do you use “stout” in a sentence?
Here is “stout” used in a sentence: “The stout old farmer had hands like shovels.”
What part of speech is “stout”?
Depending on how it is used, “stout” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “stout” come from?
The word “stout” dates back to around 1804 and comes from Old French.
Is “stout” a common word?
“Stout” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stout” have?
“Stout” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: solidly built; somewhat fat.
