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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STURT, n., v., adj. Also derivs. ¶sturtle, sturten-. [stʌrt]

I. n. Strife, contention, trouble, bother, disquiet, annoyance, vexation (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), freq. in phr. sturt and strife. Now chiefly liter. Adj. sturty, causing trouble or strife, contentious.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 286, 292:
Sturt follows all Extremes . . . Sturt pays no Debt. Spoken with Resentment, to them who storm when we crave of them our just Debts.Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 504:
The lave their thumbs did blythly knack, To see the sturty strife.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 11:
When yet the leal an' ae-fauld shepherd life, Was nae oergane by faucit, sturt an' strife.Ayr. 1788 Burns M'Pherson's Farewell v.:
I've liv'd a life of sturt and strife.Sc. 1808 Jam:
A pund of patience is worth a stane of sturt.Ags. 1818 J. Thomson Poems 61:
Abstracted frae a' tempest doure And strife and sturt.Slk. 1832 Hogg Queer Book 15:
I will thrill thy frigid blood With marvellous tale of sturt and strife.Bwk. 1862 J. G. Smith Old Churchyard 178:
He keepit far frae sturt and tulye.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 27:
A' this sturt i' the kirk meed muckle wark an' fash tae the session.Arg. 1897 N. Munro J. Splendid xxv.:
The old world of Highland sturt and strife.Gall. 1930 Gallovidian Annual 14:
In spite o' the sturt an' strife o' bird an' beast.Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills and Sea 77:
Steer, sturt an' strife, Envyin', hatin', fechtin', grief an' dule.

II. v. 1. tr., refl. and absol.: to disturb, trouble, discommode, put about or into a state of annoyance or dismay, molest, be vexatious or cause trouble (to) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1971); to bestir or rouse (oneself), make a move or start to do something (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1971). Deriv. sturtensome, easily put about or upset, gen. used neg. = easy-going, casual, lazy (Sh. 1971).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 3:
All new Things sturts; quoth the good Wife, when she gae'd ly to the Hireman.Dmf. 1772 Weekly Mag. (27 Aug.) 269:
You neede not be sturted.Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 199–200:
An' ay the less they hae to sturt them, In like proportion, less will hurt them.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 47:
Blaw loud, Sir Knicht, and dinna fear, To sturtle up the land.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 247:
She could staand at da briest o' wir hoose an' skyle wir lum withoot ever sturtin' her.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Sturt theesel' noo, an' get it done afore dark. . . . No very sturtensome.

2. intr. To take fright, be startled or uneasy (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. sturtan, afraid, nervous.Ayr. 1785 Burns Halloween xviii.:
He marches thro' amang the stacks Tho' he was something sturtan.

3. To strut, swagger.Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. 39:
He sturtit about, an' on puffery spent A hunner guid notes i' the year.