from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Doughty \Dough"ty\ (dou"t[y^]), a. [Compar. {Doughtier}
(dou"t[i^]*[~e]r); superl. {Doughtiest}.] [OE. duhti, dohti,
douhti, brave, valiant, fit, useful, AS. dyhtig; akin to G.
t["u]chtig, Dan. dygtig, Sw. dygdig virtuous, and fr. AS.
dugan to avail, be of use, be strong, akin to D. deugen, OHG.
tugan, G. taugen, Icel. & Sw. duga, Dan. due, Goth. dugan,
but of uncertain origin; cf. Skr. duh to milk, give milk,
draw out, or Gr. ty`chh fortune. [root]68.]
Able; strong; valiant; redoubtable; as, a doughty hero.
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Sir Thopas wex [grew] a doughty swain. --Chaucer.
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Doughty families, hugging old musty quarrels to their
hearts, buffet each other from generation to
generation. --Motley.
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Note: Now seldom used, except in irony or burlesque.
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