stour

noun /ˈstɔː/

1. An armed battle or conflict.

   obsolete

   Then there began a passyng harde stoure, for the Romaynes ever wexed ever bygger.

2. A time of struggle or stress.

   obsolete

   Then gan she waile and weepe, to see that woefull stowre.

3. Tumult, commotion; confusion.

Where it comes from

From Middle English stour, stor (“conflict”) from Anglo-Norman estur (“conflict, struggle”), from Old French estour, estor, estorme, estourmie, estormie (“battle, assault, conflict, tumult”), from Vulgar Latin *estorma, *storma (“battle, conflict, storm”), from Frankish *sturm (“storm, commotion, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *sturmaz (“storm”). Akin to Old High German sturm (“battle, storm”). More at storm.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry stour (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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