Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH-
Proto-Indo-European *(s)twr̥H-yé-ti?
Proto-Germanic *sturjaną
Proto-West Germanic *sturjan
Old English styrian
Middle English stiren
English stir
From Middle English stiren, sturien, steren, from Old English styrian (“to be in motion, move, agitate, stir, disturb, trouble”), from Proto-Germanic *sturiz (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), related to Proto-West Germanic *staurijan (“to destroy, disturb”). Cognate with Old Norse styrr (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), German stören (“to disturb”), Dutch storen (“to disturb”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act or result of stirring (moving around the particles of a liquid etc.)
Can you give the soup a little stir?
(countable, uncountable) agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
Meantime, the train went on to Brighton without further incident. No small stir was caused by its arrival with No. 61 at its head, resplendent with "East London Line Special" head boards, which at once caught the eye of William Stroudley, who was observing the traffic working from his office window. 1951 May, J. Pelham Maitland, “A Memorable Run by a Brighton "Terrier"”, in Railway Magazine, page 347:
When the long, hot journey drew to its end and the train slowed down for the last time, there was a stir in Jessamy’s carriage. People began to shake crumbs from their laps and tidy themselves up a little. 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 7:
1668, John Denham, Of Prudence (poem).
Why all these words, this clamour, and this stir?
Consider, after so much stir about genus and species, how few words we have yet settled definitions of. 1693, [John Locke], “§107”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
Being advertised of some stirs raised by his unnatural sons in England. 1612, Sir John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued:
(countable, uncountable) Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.
uk ажіота́ж (The act or result of stirring) · de Aufruhr (Public disturbance or commotion) · tr teheyyüç (Public disturbance or commotion) · ru волне́ния (Public disturbance or commotion) · de Erregung (The act or result of stirring) · ca rebombori (The act or result of stirring) · bg вълнение (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · tr heyecan (Public disturbance or commotion) · ca cridòria (Public disturbance or commotion) · ca esvalot (Public disturbance or commotion) · ru переполо́х (The act or result of stirring) · ca aldarull (The act or result of stirring) · ru неразбери́ха (The act or result of stirring) · uk переполо́х (The act or result of stirring) · ca avalot (The act or result of stirring) · bg суматоха (Public disturbance or commotion) · es revuelo (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · uk метушня́ (The act or result of stirring) · ca rebombori (Public disturbance or commotion) · fr tumulte (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · pl bigos (Public disturbance or commotion) · pl afera (Public disturbance or commotion) · es conmoción (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · ja 騒動 (Public disturbance or commotion) · ru сумато́ха (The act or result of stirring) · ca gatzara (The act or result of stirring) · de Erregung (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · la turbellae (Public disturbance or commotion) · ru суета́ (The act or result of stirring) · ga corraí (Public disturbance or commotion) · ru ажиота́ж (The act or result of stirring) · bg разместване (The act or result of stirring) · ga suaitheadh (The act or result of stirring) · ca esvalot (The act or result of stirring) · ga corraí (The act or result of stirring) · es alboroto (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · ca avalot (Public disturbance or commotion) · ja 騒動 (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · ro amestecare (The act or result of stirring) · ja 撹拌 (The act or result of stirring) · ru смяте́ние (Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions) · ca cridòria (The act or result of stirring) · bg движение (The act or result of stirring)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH-
Proto-Indo-European *(s)twr̥H-yé-ti?
Proto-Germanic *sturjaną
Proto-West Germanic *sturjan
Old English styrian
Middle English stiren
English stir
From Middle English stiren, sturien, steren, from Old English styrian (“to be in motion, move, agitate, stir, disturb, trouble”), from Proto-Germanic *sturiz (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), related to Proto-West Germanic *staurijan (“to destroy, disturb”). Cognate with Old Norse styrr (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), German stören (“to disturb”), Dutch storen (“to disturb”).
Meanings
(transitive) To disturb the relative position of the particles (of a liquid or similar) by passing an object through it.
She stirred the pudding with a spoon.
He stirred his coffee so the sugar wouldn't stay at the bottom.
My minde is troubled, like a Fountaine stir'd, / And I my selfe see not the bottome of it. 1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act III, scene 3:
(transitive) To disturb the content of (a container) by passing an object through it.
Would you please stir this pot so that the chocolate doesn't burn?
(transitive) To emotionally affect; to touch, to move.
And what delights can equal those
That stir the spirit’s inner deeps,
When one that loves but knows not, reaps
A truth from one that loves and knows? 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 64:
(transitive) To incite to action.
The Soldiers love her Brother’s Memory; / And for her sake some Mutiny will stir. c. 1670, John Dryden, Tyrannick Love, or the Royal Martyr, III.1:
An Ate, stirring him to bloud and strife […] c. 1595, William Shakespeare, The Life and Death of King John, act I, scene 2:
(transitive) To bring into debate; to agitate.
Preserue the rights of thy place, but stirre not questions of Iurisdiction : and rather assume thy right in silence, and de facto, then voice it with claimes, and challenges. 1613, Francis Bacon, chapter 8, in The Essaies, London:
(obsolete, transitive) To disturb, to disrupt.
They ſay he is the King of Perſea.
But if he dare attempt to ſtir your ſiege,
Twere requiſite he ſhould be ten times more,
For all fleſh quakes at your magnificence. 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 III, scene i:
(dated, transitive) To change the place of in any manner; to move.
[…] notwithstanding the swelling of my Foot, so that I had never yet in five days been able to stir it, but as it was lifted. 1677, Sir William Temple, “An Essay upon the Cure of Gout by Moxa”, in Miscellanea. The First Part, London, published 1705, page 209:
'But the bolts can't be stirred, dear,' protested Myra. 'I've tried myself until my poor thumbs are nearly dislocated. […]' 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
(intransitive) To begin to move, especially gently, from a still or unmoving position.
And especially if they happen to have any superior character or possessions in this world, they fancy they have a right to talk freely upon everything that stirs or appears[…] 1741, Isaac Watts, The Improvement of the Mind:
I had not strength to stir or strive, / But felt that I was still alive— […] 1816, Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon:
(intransitive) Of a feeling or emotion: to rise, begin to be felt.
That night he was almost too happy to sleep, and so much love stirred in his little sawdust heart that it almost burst. 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit:
Though as I said it, glibly, reassuringly, I knew that I lied, and a little snake of guilt stirred and began to uncoil slightly, guilt and its constant companion deceit. 1993, Susan Hill, Mrs de Winter, published 1999, page 54:
(intransitive) To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy oneself.
Meanwhile, the friends of the unfortunate exile, far from resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring anxiously in his behalf. 1850, Charles Merivale, A History of the Romans under the Empire, volume 1:
All are not fit with them to stir and toil. 1818, Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, canto III, stanza LXIX:
(intransitive) To rise from sleep or unconsciousness.
“Mid-Lent, and the Enemy grins,” remarked Selwyn as he started for church with Nina and the children. Austin, knee-deep in a dozen Sunday supplements, refused to stir; poor little Eileen was now convalescent from grippe, but still unsteady on her legs; her maid had taken the grippe, and now moaned all day: “Mon dieu! Mon dieu! Che fais mourir!” 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IV, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
ru шевели́ться (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · tr karıştırmak (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ja 掻き混ぜる (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · vi khuấy (to disturb the contents of) · hu gyújt (to incite to action) · uk міша́ти (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ba ҡуҙғалыу (to be active or bustling) · pt mover (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · eo ekmoviĝi (to begin to move, especially gently) · mi makitohene (to incite to action) · ka რხევა (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · oc bolegar (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ru шевели́ть (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu kavar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · nl roeren (to disturb the contents of) · es bullir (to disturb the contents of) · de anstacheln (to incite to action) · es ebullir (to disturb the contents of) · lo ຄົນ (to disturb the contents of) · pl mieszać (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · gsw verrode (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu megkever (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ca remenar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu mozdul (to begin to move, especially gently) · de (sich) regen (to be active or bustling) · cs míchat (to disturb the contents of) · ba тороу (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · pt mexer (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu bolygat (to bring into debate; to agitate) · hu késztet (to incite to action) · uk ворухну́тися (to be active or bustling) · es bullir (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ru дви́нуться (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · de rühren (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · es mejer (to disturb the contents of) · eo kirli (to disturb the contents of) · uk розмішат́и (to disturb the contents of) · is hræra (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · nod กน (to disturb the contents of) · ce питана таса (to bring into debate; to agitate) · nrf r'muer (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · nb røre (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ca moure (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · tr karıştırmak (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · la commoveō (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ru дви́нуть (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es arrebatar (to incite to action) · fi sekoittaa (to disturb the contents of) · uk розмішат́и (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · fr remuer (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · pt agitar (to disturb the contents of) · oc mesclar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · oc chambotar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ga corraigh (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · mi kōrori (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · pt mexer (to disturb the contents of) · nb røre (to disturb the contents of) · ru возбужда́ть (to bring into debate; to agitate) · uk ру́хатися (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · uk міша́ти (to disturb the contents of) · hu ébreszt (to incite to action) · uk ру́хатися (to be active or bustling) · fr agiter (to be active or bustling) · ru дви́гаться (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · fi hievahtaa (to begin to move, especially gently) · fr bouger (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ota بولامق (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · es mesclar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu mozgat (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · fi hämmentää (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ca remoure (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · chr ᎠᏑᏰᎭ (to disturb the contents of) · otk 𐰉𐰆𐰞𐰍𐰀 (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · bg ме́стя (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ba бутау (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · nn røre (to disturb the contents of) · ru вы́звать (to incite to action) · fi sekoittaa (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu keverget (to disturb the contents of) · ru дви́нуться (to be active or bustling) · cmn 移動 /移动 (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es mejer (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · uk воруши́ти (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · mi ngaoko (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · uk ру́шити (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · fi nousta (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · fi touhuta (to be active or bustling) · hu kever (to disturb the contents of) · nrf rêmouer (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ru возбуди́ть (to bring into debate; to agitate) · ru размеша́ть (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ka განძრევა (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · fi herättää (to bring into debate; to agitate) · fr remuer (to disturb the contents of) · ru шевели́ться (to be active or bustling) · ba ҡуҙғатыу (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · bg предизви́кам (to incite to action) · bg нака́рам (to incite to action) · vi quậy (to disturb the contents of) · fi herätä (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · nn røre (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ba болғау (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · de umrühren (to disturb the contents of) · cmn 攪 /搅 (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu mozdít (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · mn хутгах (to disturb the contents of) · ro amesteca (to disturb the contents of) · pt incitar (to bring into debate; to agitate) · fi liikauttaa (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hak 摝 (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu keletkezik (of a feeling or emotion: to begin to be felt) · fi yllyttää (to incite to action) · mi kōrorirori (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · uk руша́ти (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · lv maisīt (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu indít (to incite to action) · fi kiihottaa (to incite to action) · oc mover (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · it muovere (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · bg дви́жа (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · gsw rüere (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ba болғатыу (to disturb the contents of) · gd measg (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ka გამოწვევა (to incite to action) · es mecer (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · mn өдөөх (to disturb the contents of) · cy troi (to disturb the contents of) · fi hievahdella (to begin to move, especially gently) · ja 動かす (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu megmoccan (to begin to move, especially gently) · mi ngaoko (to be active or bustling) · hu felkavar (to bring into debate; to agitate) · hu kever (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · mi hiko (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · bg разбъ́ркам (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · bg мъ́рдам (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · mn холих (to disturb the contents of) · pl zbełtać (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ru шевельну́ться (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ru вы́звать (to bring into debate; to agitate) · vi quậy (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · fi hämmentää (to disturb the contents of) · uk руша́ти (to be active or bustling) · ru дви́гаться (to be active or bustling) · sv röra (to disturb the contents of) · oc remòure (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · it mescolare (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · otk 𐰉𐰆𐰞𐰍𐰀 (to disturb the contents of) · hu sürgölődik (to be active or bustling) · ka ნძრევა (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · fi liikahdella (to begin to move, especially gently) · km កូរ (to disturb the contents of) · pl bełtać (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · fr touiller (to disturb the contents of) · ro amesteca (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ja 動く (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · bg ме́шам (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · bg разбъ́рквам (to disturb the contents of) · es mezclar (to disturb the contents of) · hu felkever (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · mi tairangi (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · sv röra (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · de (sich) bewegen (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · ar تَحَرَّكَ (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu serénykedik (to be active or bustling) · hu kavarog (of a feeling or emotion: to begin to be felt) · hu kivált (to incite to action) · bg бъ́ркам (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · uk розмі́шувати (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ota بولامق (to disturb the contents of) · mi tairangi (to disturb the contents of) · ja 扇動する (to bring into debate; to agitate) · de hervorrufen (to bring into debate; to agitate) · ca remoure (to disturb the contents of) · nl roeren (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu moccan (to begin to move, especially gently) · uk воруши́тися (to be active or bustling) · es mecer (to disturb the contents of) · bg ста́вам (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · vi quấy (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ba болғау (to disturb the contents of) · es agitar (to incite to action) · ba күсереү (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu magához tér (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · mn үймүүлэх (to disturb the contents of) · bg ка́рам (to incite to action) · pt mexer (to incite to action) · tr karıştırmak (to disturb the contents of) · oc mòure (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · mi whakataritari (to bring into debate; to agitate) · cmn 攪拌 /搅拌 (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ro se mișca (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es revolver (to disturb the contents of) · af roer (to disturb the contents of) · ru шевельну́ть (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es mesclar (to disturb the contents of) · ru вызыва́ть (to incite to action) · fi esittää (to bring into debate; to agitate) · vi trộn (to disturb the contents of) · ca bellugar (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · bg дви́жа се (to be active or bustling) · hu felkel (to rise from sleep or unconsciousness) · hu megmozdul (to begin to move, especially gently) · ja かき立てる (to incite to action) · pt mexer (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ru вызыва́ть (to bring into debate; to agitate) · nod ᨣᩫ᩠ᨶ (to disturb the contents of) · ru дви́гать (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · gd tog (to incite to action) · vi khuấy (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · la commoveō (to incite to action) · fi liikahtaa (to begin to move, especially gently) · ca regirar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ko 휘젓다 (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · fi liikuttaa (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es escrucar (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · uk ру́шити (to be active or bustling) · uk воруши́ти (to be active or bustling) · es revolver (to incite to action) · es revolver (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ce кег ян (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ja 攪拌する (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · pl wymieszać (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · fi hääriä (to be active or bustling) · fi herätä (of a feeling or emotion: to begin to be felt) · ru шевельну́ться (to be active or bustling) · fi läikehtiä (of a feeling or emotion: to begin to be felt) · hu mozog (to be active or bustling) · hu mozdul (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · es remover (to disturb the contents of) · uk воруши́тися (to change the place of in any manner; to move) · hu kelt (to incite to action) · it agitare (to disturb the contents of) · pt agitar (to bring into debate; to agitate) · th คน (to disturb the contents of) · hu támad (of a feeling or emotion: to begin to be felt) · ru меша́ть (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · ru разме́шивать (to disturb the relative position of the particles of) · hu felbolygat (to bring into debate; to agitate) · mi whakatari (to bring into debate; to agitate) · ja 動き回る (to be active or bustling) · gd tog (to bring into debate; to agitate) · es escrucar (to disturb the contents of)
From Romani stariben (“prison”), nominalisation of (a)star (“seize”), causative of ast (“remain”), probably from Sanskrit आतिष्ठति (ātiṣṭhati, “stand or remain by”), from तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati, “stand”).
Meanings
(countable, slang, uncountable) Jail; prison.
He's going to be spending maybe ten years in stir.
Sing Sing was a tough joint in those days, one of the five worst stirs in the United States. 1928, Jack Callahan, Man's Grim Justice: My Life Outside the Law, page 42:
The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face. 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01: