Part 894

Stur"dy (?), 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.

This sturdy marquis gan his hearte dress To rue upon her wifely steadfastness.

Chaucer.

This must be done, and I would fain see Mortal so sturdy as to gainsay.

Hudibras.

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

Atterbury.

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

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

How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!

Gray.

4. Stiff; stout; strong; as, a sturdy oak. Milton.

He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than dainty.

Sir H. Wotton.

Syn. -- Hardy; stout; strong; firm; robust; stiff.

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

Stur"geon (?), n. [F. esturgeon, LL. sturio, sturgio, OHG. sturjo, G. stör; akin to AS. styria, styriga.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of large cartilaginous ganoid fishes belonging to Acipenser and allied genera of the family Acipenseridæ. 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. Caviare is prepared from the roe, and isinglass from the air bladder.

The common North American species are Acipenser sturio of the Atlantic coast region, A. transmontanus of the Pacific coast, and A. 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.

Shovel-nosed sturgeon. (Zoöl.) See Shovelnose (d).

||Stu`ri*o"nes (?), n. pl. [NL., from LL. sturio. See Sturgeon.] ||(Zoöl.) An order of fishes including the sturgeons.

Stu`ri*o"ni*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the family of fishes of which the sturgeon is the type.

Sturk (?), n. See Stirk. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Stur"noid (?), a. [L. sturnus a starling + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the starlings.

Sturt (?), v. t. [Cf. Start, v. i.] To vex; to annoy; to startle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Sturt, n. 1. Disturbance; annoyance; care. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] "Sturt and care." J. Rolland.

2. (Mining) A bargain in tribute mining by which the tributor profits. Raymond.

Stur"tion (?), n. A corruption of Nasturtion.