haught, a. arch.
(hɔːt)
Forms: α. 5–6 haute, hawt(e, 6 halt, 6–7 haut, hault(e. β. 6– haught.
[orig. haut, hault from contemporary French: see haut a.; corrupted late in 16th c. to haught after words like caught, taught, etc. in which gh had become mute: perh. influenced by high, height.]
1. High in one's own estimation; bearing oneself loftily; haughty. arch.
| α 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas v. xxiv. (1554) 138 a, He was haute in his prosperitie. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 516 Many hawte wordys were blowen on eyther partye. 1531 Elyot Gov. ii. v, A proude and haulte countenaunce. 1648 Milton Ps. lxxx. 35 Nations proud and haut. |
| β 1608 Shakes. Rich. II, iv. i. 254 (2nd Qo.) North. My lord. Rich. No Lord of thine, thou haught insulting man. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles i. xxxi, That bearing haught and high, Which common spirits fear! 1875 Browning Inn Album i. 313 As the haught high-bred bearing and dispose. |
† 2. Of exalted character,
esp. in the matter of courage; high-minded, noble; lofty.
Obs.| α a 1470 Tiptoft Cæsar (1530) 12 He was a man of haute courage. 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. lix. 97 With corage hawte, Thonset to giue, this castell to assawte. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1593) 99 Valiant deedes and halt exploits. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. ii. xxvii. (1609) 97 The nature of our Nation is free, stout, hault. |
| β 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. vi. 29 His courage haught Desyrd of forreine foemen to be knowne. |
† 3. Of exalted rank or station; high-born, noble.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur ii. vi, Galahad the haute [1634 haughty] prynce. 1553 Bale Gardiner's De Vera Obed. F iij, In hault estate of worldly power. 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (Rtldg.) 106/1 That boast the pride of haught Latonas son. a 1627 Middleton & Rowley Sp. Gipsy ii. ii, As brave a Spaniard As ever spake the haut Castilian tongue. |
† 4. High, in literal and other senses.
of hawt grees,
tr. F.
de haute graisse, ‘full, plumpe, goodlie, fat, well-fed, in good liking’ (
Cotgr.). (In Bailey
prob. only
Fr.)
Obs.| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 409 Capon, & hen of hawt grees, þus wold þey be dight. 1587 Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 5, I know how haut thy muse doth flie. [1731 Bailey, Haut, high or shrill..Haut Contre (in Musick Books) signifies Counter Tenor. Haut Dessus, first Treble.] |
5. Comb., as
haught-hearted,
haught-minded.
| 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. (1556) 23 Haulte mynded and sterne towardes the communaltee. 1547–64 Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 103 Th' ambicious and hautehearted felowe. 1595 Enq. Tripe-wife (1881) 145 Haught minded, and hot spirited Simon. |