boisterous
/ˈbɔɪstəɹəs/ adjective
Forms boistrous
- adjective Full of energy; exuberant; noisy.
- adjective Characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy.
- adjective Having or resembling animalic exuberance.
Synonyms
rollicking robustious rambunctious rumbustious unruly knockabout fierce rough
Etymology
From Middle English boistres, an alteration of Middle English boistous (“crude, unrefined”), of uncertain origin. Likely from Anglo-Norman boystous, bustous (“rough, in a crude state, disabled, paralysed, unable to walk, lame”), Old French boitous (“limping; having a rough, uneven surface”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Rough or rude; unbending; unyielding; strong; powerful. [Obs.]
- adjective Exhibiting tumultuous violence and fury; acting with noisy turbulence; violent; rough; stormy.
Etymology [OE. boistous; of uncertain origin; cf. W. bwyst wild, savage, wildness, ferocity, bwystus ferocious.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “boisterous”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details