dought

English

Alternative forms

• douth

Pronunciation

• enPR: dout, IPA: /daʊt/, X-SAMPA: /daUt/
• Rhymes: -aʊt

Etymology 1

From Middle English duȝethe, duhethe (“body of retainers, people, might, dignity, worth”), from Old English duguþ (“manhood, host, multitude, troops”), from Proto-Germanic *dugunþō, *dugunþiz (“power, competency, notefulness”), from *duganą (“to be useful”), from Proto-Indo-European *dheughe- (“to be ready, be sufficient”). Cognate with Old Frisian duged (“power”), Old High German tugad, tugund (“virtue”), German Tugend, Swedish dygd. Related to dow, doughty.

Noun

dought (usually uncountable; plural doughts)

1. manhood, virtue
2. the age of manhood, maturity
3. virility, manly power or strength; excellence
4. (collectively) men, people
5. a company, army, retinue

Etymology 2

From Middle English doghte, from Old English dohte (first and third person singular past tense of dugan (“to avail, be useful”)).

Verb

dought

1. (dialect) alternative past tense form of dow