Dictionary

boisterous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɔɪstɹəs/
• (US) audio
• /ˈbɔɪstəɹəs/

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”).

Meanings

1. Full of energy; exuberant; noisy.
   • Open carriages tend to be draughty and inadequately heated. The passenger in them has no escape from the annoyance of squalling babies, boisterous drunks, and riotous teddy-boys, who may be at the far end of the coach but whose din cannot be shut out. 1959 February 14, “Letters to the Editor: Open-Type Coaches on B.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 135:
2. Characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy.
   • A new and elegant dress had been provided by Lady Anne for the second day, but it was of less costly material, and, by the same rule, considerably slighter; so that Fanchette suggested the idea of substituting a slip to make it equally warm, as the weather had set in cold and boisterous. 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XLI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 219:
   • ſtaggering like a quiuering Aſpen leafe, Fearing the force of Boreas boiſtrous blaſts. c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iv:
3. Having or resembling animalic exuberance.

Forms

Deriveds

unboisterous · boisterousness · boisterously · overboisterous

Hyponyms

rambunctious · rumbustious · rumbumptious · rambustious

Synonyms

robustious · rollicking

Translations (89)

ru бу́йный (full of energy; noisy) · bg шумен (full of energy; noisy) · de ausgelassen (full of energy; noisy) · cmn 狂暴的 (full of energy; noisy) · gl salvaxe (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · pl hałaśliwy (full of energy; noisy) · kk тулағыш (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · ru шу́мный (full of energy; noisy) · bg бурен (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · mk бу́рен (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · pl dziki (having or resembling animal exuberance) · cs divoký (having or resembling animal exuberance) · fr tapageur (full of energy; noisy) · pl zwierzęcy (having or resembling animal exuberance) · mk бу́ен (full of energy; noisy) · cmn 哄然的 (full of energy; noisy) · ru бу́йный (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · ja 喧しい (full of energy; noisy) · nl stormachtig (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · la bacchabundus (full of energy; noisy) · grc λάβρος (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · de wild (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · de agitiert (full of energy; noisy) · mk бу́чен (full of energy; noisy) · fi riehakas (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · de aufrührerisch (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · fi äänekäs (full of energy; noisy) · it tempestoso (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · sh neobuzdan (full of energy; noisy) · ru шумли́вый (full of energy; noisy) · cs bouřlivý (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · cs nevázaný (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · cs rozbouřený (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · sh razigran (full of energy; noisy) · eo bruema (full of energy; noisy) · bg буен (full of energy; noisy) · fr agité (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · tyz bjào bjào (full of energy; noisy) · fi remuisa (full of energy; noisy) · gl ruidoso (full of energy; noisy) · pt tumultuoso (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · ca sorollós (full of energy; noisy) · es bullero (full of energy; noisy) · de polternd (full of energy; noisy) · de lebhaft (full of energy; noisy) · vi ầm ầm (full of energy; noisy) · de lebendig (full of energy; noisy) · mk жив (full of energy; noisy) · fr bruyant (full of energy; noisy) · de ungestüm (full of energy; noisy) · cs rozpustilý (full of energy; noisy) · cs divoký (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · kk тулағыш (having or resembling animal exuberance) · ko 격렬하다 (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · gl salvaxe (having or resembling animal exuberance) · cs bouřlivý (full of energy; noisy) · nl driest (full of energy; noisy) · ko 떠들썩하다 (full of energy; noisy) · it esuberante (full of energy; noisy) · it turbolento (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · sh bučan (full of energy; noisy) · mi tuarangaranga (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · sv stormig (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · ja 騒々しい (full of energy; noisy) · es bullicioso (full of energy; noisy) · ja うるさい (full of energy; noisy) · uk гомінливий (full of energy; noisy) · pdt lud (full of energy; noisy) · mi tūperepere (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · de tosend (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · cmn 狂歡的 /狂欢的 (full of energy; noisy) · fr turbulent (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · grc λάβρος (full of energy; noisy) · de laut (full of energy; noisy) · de ungestüm (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · cmn 愛鬧的 /爱闹的 (full of energy; noisy) · ca escandalós (full of energy; noisy) · pt ruidoso (full of energy; noisy) · mk шу́мен (full of energy; noisy) · cmn 喧鬧的 (full of energy; noisy) · ru неи́стовый (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · mi tarakaka (full of energy; noisy) · ja 賑やかな (full of energy; noisy) · it chiassoso (full of energy; noisy) · ru бу́рный (full of energy; noisy) · cmn 猛烈的 (full of energy; noisy) · es embullador (full of energy; noisy) · de stürmisch (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy) · ru бу́рный (characterized by violence and agitation; wild; stormy)