Strut Meaning

/stɹʌt/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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verbOf a peacock or other fowl: to stand or walk stiffly, with the tail erect and spread out.

verbTo walk haughtily or proudly with one's head held high.

That strut is weak and needs reinforcing.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The proud peacock began to ____ around the yard to attract the peahens.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A long metal ____ was added to the roof to provide extra support for the heavy solar panel units today.

The verb is derived from Middle English strouten, struten (“to bulge, swell; to protrude, stick out; to bluster, threaten; to object forcefully; to create a disturbance; to fight; to display one's clothes in a proud or vain manner”) [and other forms], from Old English strūtian (“to project out; stand out stiffly; to exert oneself, struggle”), from Proto-Germanic *strūtōną, *strūtijaną (“to be puffed up, swell”), from Proto-Indo-European *streudʰ- (“rigid, stiff”), from *(s)ter- (“firm; strong; rigid, stiff”). The English word is cognate with Danish strutte (“to bulge, bristle”), Low German strutt (“stiff”), Middle High German striuzen (“to bristle; to ruffle”) (modern German strotzen (“to bristle up”), sträußen (obsolete, except in Alemannic)); and compare Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌿𐍄𐍃𐍆𐌹𐌻𐌻 (þrutsfill, “leprosy”), Old Norse þrútinn (“swollen”). The noun is derived from the verb. Noun sense 2 (“instrument for adjusting the pleats of a ruff”) appears to be due to a misreading of a 16th-century work which used the word stroout (strouted (“caused (something) to bulge, protrude, or swell; strutted”)).

"Hark, hark, I heare, the ſtraine of ſtrutting Chanticlere cry cockadidle-dowe." — 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 5, column 1:
"The pheasant strutteth about in the midst of flowers; / The turtle-dove cooeth, and the nightingale warbleth from the cypress." — 1883, Ferdusī [i.e., Ferdowsi], “The Gardens of Afrasiab”, in S[amuel] Robinson, transl., Persian Poetry for English Readers: Being Specimens of Six of the Greatest Classical Poets of Persia: Ferdusī, Nizāmī, Sādī, Jelāl-ad-dīn Rūmī, Hāfiz, and Jāmī […], [Glasgow]: […] [M‘Laren & Son] for private circulation, →OCLC, section IV (Miscellaneous Specimens of the “Shah-Namah”), page 93:
"He thought that whenne Thanksgyving came he'd looke soe payle & thynne, / He colde avoid ye usual role ye Turkye strutteth inne." — 1887 November 24, “Ye Scheme of Ye Turkye Bold: Ytts Faylure”, in Life, volume X, number 256, New York, N.Y.: Published at the Life Office – […], published 19 July 1883, →OCLC, page 288:
"The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash." — 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:
"[O]h, I ſhould remember him: do's he not hold vp his head (as it were?) and ſtrut in his gate?" — c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 42, column 2:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The proud peacock began to ____ around the yard to attract the peahens.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A long metal ____ was added to the roof to provide extra support for the heavy solar panel units today.

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