sterquilinous

English

Etymology

From Latin sterquilinium (“a dung pit”), from stercus (“dung”), +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /stɜː(ɹ)ˈkwɪlɪnəs/

Adjective

sterquilinous (comparative more sterquilinous, superlative most sterquilinous)

1. (obsolete) Pertaining to a dunghill
2. mean; dirty; paltry.
   • 1655, James Howell, “To Dr. D. Featly”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC:

     every tressis agaso, any sterquilinous Rascal, is licens'd to throw dirt in the faces of Sovereign Princes in open printed language

References

“sterquilinous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.