v. t. To disturb. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sturdy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being sturdy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Sturdier superl. Sturdiest. ] [ OE. sturdi inconsiderable, OF. estourdi stunned, giddy, thoughtless, rash, F. étourdi, p. p. of OF. estourdir to stun, to render giddy, to amaze, F. étourdir; of uncertain origin. The sense has probably been influenced by E. stout. ] 1. Foolishly obstinate or resolute; stubborn; unrelenting; unfeeling; stern. [ 1913 Webster ]

This sturdy marquis gan his hearte dress
To rue upon her wifely steadfastness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

This must be done, and I would fain see
Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sturdy, hardened sinner shall advance to the utmost pitch of impiety with less reluctance than he took the first steps. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resolute, in a good sense; or firm, unyielding quality; as, a man of sturdy piety or patriotism. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Characterized by physical strength or force; strong; lusty; violent; as, a sturdy lout. [ 1913 Webster ]

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke! Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Stiff; stout; strong; as, a sturdy oak. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Hardy; stout; strong; firm; robust; stiff. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. estourdi giddiness, stupefaction. ] (Vet.) A disease in sheep and cattle, marked by great nervousness, or by dullness and stupor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. esturgeon, LL. sturio, sturgio, OHG. sturjo, G. stör; akin to AS. styria, styriga. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large cartilaginous ganoid fishes belonging to Acipenser and allied genera of the family Acipenseridae. They run up rivers to spawn, and are common on the coasts and in the large rivers and lakes of North America, Europe, and Asia. Caviar is prepared from the roe, and isinglass from the air bladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common North American species are Acipenser sturio of the Atlantic coast region, Acipenser transmontanus of the Pacific coast, and Acipenser rubicundus of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. In Europe, the common species is Acipenser sturio, and other well-known species are the sterlet and the huso. The sturgeons are included in the order Chondrostei. Their body is partially covered by five rows of large, carinated, bony plates, of which one row runs along the back. The tail is heterocercal. The toothless and protrusile mouth is beneath the head, and has four barbels in front. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shovel-nosed sturgeon. (Zool.) See Shovelnose (d). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., from LL. sturio. See Sturgeon. ] (Zool.) An order of fishes including the sturgeons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of the family of fishes of which the sturgeon is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Stirk. [ Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sturnus a starling + -oid. ] (Zool.) Like or pertaining to the starlings. [ 1913 Webster ]