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Origin and history of stalwart

stalwart(adj.)

late 14c., of persons, "resolute, determined," a Scottish variant of Middle English stalworth, "physically strong, powerful," also "brave, courageous, valiant," which is from Old English stælwierðe "good, serviceable." This probably is a contracted compound of staðol "base, foundation, support; stability, security" (from Proto-Germanic *stathlaz, from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm") + wierðe "good, excellent, worthy" (see worth).

Another theory traces the first element of stælwierðe to Old English stæl "place," from Proto-Germanic *stælaz, ultimately from the same root as staðol. Middle English also had stalle (adj.) "unyielding, relentless, courageous" (c. 1200) from the noun (see stall (n.)). Related: Stalworthily; stalwartly; stalwartness. Stalwart (n.) was common in U.S. political writing from 1877 through 1880s in reference to various factions (mostly of the Republican Party) considered uncompromisingly partisan.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to stalwart

stall(n.1)

[place in a stable for animals] Middle English stalle, from Old English steall "standing place, any fixed place or position, state; place where cattle are kept, stable; fishing ground," from Proto-Germanic *stalli- (source also of Old Norse stallr "pedestal for idols, altar; crib, manger," Old Frisian stal, Old High German stall "stand, place, stable, stall," German Stall "stable," Stelle "place").

This is perhaps from PIE *stol-no-, suffixed form of root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place. Compare stallion, install.

Several meanings, including that of "a stand for selling" (mid-13c., implied in stallage), probably are from (or influenced by) Anglo-French and Old French estal "station, position; stall of a stable; stall in a market; a standing still; a standing firm" (12c., Modern French étal "butcher's stall"). This, along with Italian stallo "place," stalla "stable" is a borrowing from a Germanic source from the same root as the native English word.

The sense of "booth or bench for selling merchandise, money-changing, etc." is by late 14c. The meaning "partially enclosed fixed seat in a choir" is attested from c. 1400; that of "urinal or divided compartment in a series in a lavatory" is by 1967. The word formerly was used more broadly; in Middle English, to stand stall was "to be of help or avail;" a homestall (Old English hamsteal) was a homestead, a finger-stall a thimble or finger of a glove.

worth(adj.)

Middle English, from Old English weorþ "having worth, significant, of value;" also "valued, appreciated, deserving; honorable, noble, of high rank;" from Proto-Germanic *wertha-, which is of uncertain origin. Boutkan finds no IE etymology for it.

Also in Old English as "suitable for, proper, fit," and "entitled to by excellence or importance." It is attested from c. 1200 as as a "quasi-preposition" [Middle English Compendium], "equivalent to, of the value of, valued at; having importance equal to; equal in power to."

Colloquial dismissive phrase for what it's worth is by 1872; for all it's worth "to the fullest extent" is by 1874 in California newspapers, perhaps a gambler's term.

Germanic cognates include Old Frisian werth, Old Norse verðr, Dutch waard, Old High German werd, German wert, Gothic wairþs "worth, worthy." Old Church Slavonic vredu, Lithuanian vertas "worth," and similar Celtic words are considered to be borrowings from Germanic.