a. Also 3–5 lusti, 6 losty, 6–7 lustie. [f. LUST sb. + -Y. Cf. MHG. lustic (mod.G. lustig), ON. lostig-r.]
† 1. Of persons and their attributes: Joyful, merry, jocund; cheerful, lively. Obs.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1693. Alle pleiende somet, alle lahinde somet, eauer iliche lusti.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 655. And from his courser, with a lusty herte, In to a groue ful hastily he sterte.
14[?]. Epiphany, in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 109. With lusty hart and glad chere and myld of face.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Rom., Prol. The lawe requireth a fre, a willinge, a lusty and a louynge hearte.
1552. Ascham, Germany, 16. The one so lusty with good luck that he had no lust to leave, and the other so chafed with losing that he still would venture.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 41. The gentlemen … keepe sumptuous houses, lusty ports, and great hospitalitie.
1621. Fletcher, Isl. Princess, II. vii. My most noble Princes, no discontents, but all be lustie, He that frownes this day is an open enemie.
b. Of singing, music, festivities: Merry, cheerful. Now arch. and dial.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, Prol. (1554), 35. Their … lustie freshe singing. Ibid. (c. 1440), Nightingale Poems, 3/37. Sche,… all the someres nyght Ne seseth not with mony a lusty note.
1519. Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc.), 50. Let us some lusty balet syng.
1535. Coverdale, Amos vi. 7. The lusty chere [1611 banquet] of the wylfull shall come to an ende.
1596. Sir J. Davies, Orchestra, lxviii. With loftie turnes and capriols in the ayre, Which with the lustie tunes accordeth fayre.
1622. Fletcher, Beggars Bush, IV. v. Well met sir, you are for this lusty wedding?
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., iv. The lusty banqueting with sweetmeats and comfits.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 262. Hark! a lusty horn is sounded.
1896. Crockett, Grey Man, xxvii. 183. Never once did we speak of wars and stratagems … but all of friendship, of lusty daffing, and of leasome love.
† 2. Pleasing, pleasant. Obs.
† a. Pleasing in appearance; beautiful. Obs.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in Cott. Hom., 269. Þi leor is swa unimete lufsum and lusti on to loken.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 35. Now be the lusti somer floures, Now be the stormy wynter shoures.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. The medowes … Tapited bene with diuers floures newe, Of sundry motlees lusty for to sene.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. ix. 86. Lavynia … That doun for schame did cast hyr lusty eyn [L. decoros].
1530. Tindale, Gen. iii. 6. The woman sawe that it was a good tree to eate of and lustie unto the eyes.
1562. Turner, Baths, 9 a. Hillockes whych are pleasant and lusty to loke unto.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xvii. 63. Quhen throu hir garments, heir and thair, Appeirit hir lustie limis square.
† b. Of dress: Handsome, gay. Of persons: Gaily dressed. Obs.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 486. Who now moost may bere on his bak at ones Of cloth and furrour, hath a fressch renoun; He is ‘a lusty man’ clept for þe nones.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 58. Ane hundreth ladyes, lustie in to wedis, Als fresch as flouris that in May vp spredis.
1530. Palsgr., 318/1. Lusty or fresshe in apparayle, frisque.
1555. Bradford, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xiv. 124. Ye shall prove their lustie lyveryes to be bought with exceeding great excesse.
1584. Pelle, Arraignm. Paris, I. i. Her lustie mantle wauing in the winde.
1603. Drayton, Odes, x. 7. Long since the Summer layd Her lustie Brav’rie downe.
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Shepherdess, I. i. Euery shepheards boy Puts on his lusty greene.
† c. Of seasons, places, etc.: Pleasant, delightful. Obs.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 736. And with him, in that lusty place, So fair folk and so fresh hadde he. Ibid. (c. 1386), Sqr.’s T., 44. Ful lusty was the weder and benigne.
c. 1430. Lydg., Reas. & Sens. (E.E.T.S.), 4807. In that fressh[e] lusty place Hem to disporte and solace.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxxix. [lxxv.] 236. It was in the ioly lusty moneth of Aprell.
1590. Marlowe, Faust., i. 149. That I may coniure in some lustie groue.
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Shepherdess, I. i. Since the lusty spring began.
† d. Pleasant to the taste. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., 29. Till firy Tytan … Had dried up the lusty lycour nywe, Upon the herbes in the grene mede.
a. 1450. Myrc, 1436. Also ȝef þou synned hast In mete or drynke by lusty tast.
† e. Of language, eloquence, etc.: Pleasing, agreeable. Obs.
1399. Pol. Poems (Rolls), I. 372. That it be lore lawefulle, and lusty to here.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xviii. 255. Into this eende … thei vsiden certein colouris of rethorik, that with hem her spechis schulde be the more lusti.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 980. All the audyence Reioysed to here her lusty eloquence.
a. 1529. Skelton, Replyc., etc. Wks. 1843, I. 207. Yong scolers … when they haue delectably lycked a lytell of the lycorous electuary of lusty lerning.
† 3. Full of desire, desirous. Const. to, for. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10598. Sum lordes to lenge lusty þai were.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 96. Than George bad ye kynge … be lusty to goddes servyce.
1552. Latimer, Serm. Lincoln., vii. (1562), 124 b. These thynges are written for our sake, to make vs lustie to folowe oure vocation.
1657. S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., 97. Lusty for labour.
† 4. Full of lust or sexual desire; lustful. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s Prol., 41. Fy stynkyng swyn fy, foule moot thee falle,… A taketh heede sires, of this lusty man.
1483. Cath. Angl., 224/2. Lusty,… libidinosus.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 68. It is better to kepe the horse frome the mares,… for … he shall be more lusty, and the moo horse coltes shall he gete.
1562. Child Marriages, etc., 75. He went … when he was lustie, to his wief, and vsid her companye in bed.
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Shepherdess, IV. ii. Prouoking thoughts that stirr vpp lusty fiers.
1611. Cotgr., Rechauffer un chien, to make him lustie, or desirous of the bitch.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 104. While their Youth is fill’d with kindly Fire, Submit thy Females to the lusty Sire.
5. Full of healthy vigor.
a. Of persons and animals: Healthy, strong, vigorous. Also of a period of life: Characterized by vigor. Now somewhat arch. in literary use; common in dialects. † In early use often: Valiant, courageous, active (obs.).
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 85. This … knyght … Was yong and there with all a lusty knyght. Ibid. (c. 1386), Prol., 80. With hym ther was his sone a yong Squier A louyere, and a lusty Bacheler.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, b vj b. That hawke was neuer so lusty nor so Joly before.
1521. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 281. I mett his Holynes, and my thought I never sawe hym mor losty.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. xvii. 22. A mery herte maketh a lusty age, but a sorowfull minde dryeth vp ye bones.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 128. For milcking, or for feeding, it is best alwaies to choose such as are young, of lusty age.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 66. Furnish new the name of Iohn a Gaunt, Euen in the lusty hauiour of his sonne.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 15. All idle, lustie, and wandring beggars, who ought not to eate.
a. 1648. Digby, Closet Open. (1669), 27. Cause a lusty Servant (his Arms well washed) to mix the honey and water together.
1702. Pope, Jan. & May, 135. Old as I am, my lusty limbs appear Like winter greens, that flourish all the year.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, I. 175. A bark with lusty rowers well supplied.
1824. Byron, Deformed Transf., I. i. Though my brothers are So beautiful and lusty.
1876. Black, Madcap Violet, vii. 65. But what pathos was there possible to those stalwart young fellows with their lusty throats, their tobacco, and beer and wine?
1884. West Sussex Gaz., 25 Sept. [To be sold] 10 prime lusty heifers.
transf. 1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. iv. 31. Make lusty the mynde of a Christian souldier.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, II. 14. Truth is the natural food of our soul … doth render it lusty, plump and active.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, i. 33, note. They were … the natural guides of the lusty young democracy.
1880. Newman Smyth, Old Faiths in New Lt., i. (1882), 19. Much even of our most positive and lusty science is still only in its infancy.
† b. Phrases. Lusty Laurence (cf. LAURENCE): ‘a good wencher’ (Nares). Lusty Juventus: the title of a morality play produced c. 1550; often used allusively in 16th c. Obs.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 64. You lustye iuuentus In yeers and carcasse prime.
1594. in Arber, Stationers’ Reg. (1875), II. 309. A ballad intituled Lustye Lawrence.
1594. Barnfield, Helens Rape, Poems (Arb.), 40. Old lad, and bold lad, such a Boy, such a lustie Iuuentus.
1598. Marston, Metam. Pigmal., etc. Sat. iv. F 1 b. When strong backt Hercules … Rob’d fifty wenches of virginity. Farre more then lusty Laurence.
1613. Beaum. & Fl., Captain, IV. iii. Lusty Laurence, See what a Gentlewoman you have saluted.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, I. iii. Well, lusty Laurence, were but my night now, Old as I am, I would make you clap on Spurs, But I would reach you.
1636. Dekker, Wonder of Kingd., V. i. Wks. 1873, IV. 279. Hee’ll proue a lustie Larrence.
c. With reference to vegetable growth. arch.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, III. viii. 434. In the spring and March when the trees are in flowers, and beginne to grow lustie.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, 128. Thus you will have lusty slips.
1671. Grew, Anat. Plants, I. (1682), 8. The Plume,… growing, so lusty, as to mount up without them [the lobes].
1820. Keats, Isabella, ix. Great happiness Grew, like a lusty flower in June’s caress.
† d. Of soil: Fertile, prolific. Obs.
1601. Bp. W. Barlow, Defence, 6. Pregnant natures, are like lustie groundes, these manured by industry, prooue soundly fertile.
† 6. Insolent, arrogant, self-confident. Obs.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 54. To thinke well of him selfe, to be lustie in contemning of others.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 5. Purposing … to show a lusti contempt of so silli a frend.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 46. The great emperor of Turkes … is lately become,… somewhat cranker and lustier, than his accustomed maner was.
1600. Holland, Livy, VI. xxxvi. 242. The Coloners onely of Velitre, upon so long rest and quietnesse began to be lustie and wax wanton [L. gestientes otio].
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., X. § 102. When they found it fit to make any lusty Declaration against the Parliament,… they allways inserted somewhat that might look like candour and tenderness towards the King’s Party.
† 7. Of inanimate agencies (e.g., a fire, wine, poison, a disease): Strong, powerful. Obs.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 228. The husbandmen sat warming their shanckes by a lustie fire that filled the chimney.
1596. Drayton, Leg., iii. 21. Many a low Ebbe, many a lustie Tide.
1622. Fletcher, Beggars Bush, IV. iv. Strong lusty London beer.
a. 1647. Prol. to Beaum. & Fl.’s Custom Country. They … dranke lusty wine, The nectar of the Muses.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Conv. betw. B. J. & W. D., Wks. (1711), 224. It was strong and lusty poison.
1683. Tryon, Way to Health, xvi. (1697), 380. The close Rooms, lusty Fires, drawn Curtains, and other torturing Circumstances.
1692. Locke, Educ., § 29. Distempers … which, by too forward applications, might have been made lusty diseases.
† b. Of a ship: Sailing well. Obs.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 335. In an houre we cast more over-board then was laded in a day; and … immediately we perceiv’d the Vessell to be more lusty.
1667. Lond. Gaz., No. 155/4. The Paradox … had a sharp dispute with a lusty privateer, who got from him.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 19. The Chase is a lusty brave Ship.
8. Of actions (esp. those involving physical effort, as a blow, a shout): Vigorous. Of a meal, etc.: ‘Hearty,’ abundant.
1672. Chaucer’s Ghoast, 14. He … beheld the lusty Love which each of them to other made.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts, 122. A word drawn from the lusty shout of souldiers.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 266, ¶ 2. He drunk a lusty Draught.
1779. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 25 Oct. I hope Mr. Thrale once a day makes a lusty dinner.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 271. The Turk … gave him two or three lusty kicks on the seat of honour.
1840. Thackeray, King of Yvetot. And every day it came to pass That four lusty meals made he.
1872. Baker, Nile Tribut., xi. 177. She gave her a maternal welcome … bestowing lusty blows on her back.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, III. xiv. 175. There was some lusty disputation.
† 9. Massive, substantial, large. Obs.
1640. Lanc. Lovers, in Brand, Pop. Antiq. (1849), II. 37. We will haue a lustie Cheese-cake at our sheepe-wash.
1645. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 196. The Arsenal has sufficient to arm 70,000 men,… with divers lusty pieces of ordnance.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., lxxvi. 432. Provided alwayes, it be not to hinder themselves from enjoying a lusty Benefice.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 127. If ten or twenty of the lustiest noble-mens estates of England were cleaverly sliced among the indigent.
1691. Shadwell, Scourers, I. i. A bottle of Spirit of Canary and a lusty glass.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xv. 133. Four boys and a little girl sat at a side table where … a lusty loaf was laid under contribution.
¶ b. ? Important, striking. ? nonce-use.
1788. H. Walpole, Let. Earl Strafford, 17 June (1846), VI. 292. To have Constantinople taken, merely as a lusty event.
10. Of persons: Massively built. Hence, corpulent, stout, fat.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1341. He was lusty and well made, though not tall.
1785. G. A. Bellamy, Apology, IV. 5. That lady, playing the character of Arpasia … being very lusty, the scene men found great difficulty to lift the chair into which she had thrown herself.
1792. Charlotte Smith, Desmond, II. 209. Quite a grand looking man, though not lusty, but rather thinnish.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., ii. Being a robust and lusty man, he … found it impossible to get through between the bars.
1839. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia (1863), 180. I came upon a gang of lusty women, as the phrase is here for women in the family-way.
1886. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Lusty … 2. Obese; fat.
11. Comb. (parasynthetic), as lusty-handed, † -hued, -limbed, -lunged adjs.
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 639. The … heaps Of apples, which the *lusty-handed year,… o’er the blushing orchard shakes.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3014. So *lusty hewed of colour.
1897. Pullen-Burry, Blotted Out, 17. Red-nosed *lusty-limbed swains.
1895. Clive Holland, My Japanese Wife (ed. 11), 87. Instruments … blown by other equally *lusty-lunged boys.
Hence † Lusty sb. (Naut.). = HEARTY sb.2
1805. Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1806), IX. 375. Now then, my lusties, for a lug at the bowlines.
