unruly

English

Etymology

From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), interpreted as un- + rule + -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- +‎ roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by an Old Norse word related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic óróleg (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -uːli

Adjective

unruly (comparative unrulier, superlative unruliest)

1. wild; uncontrolled

   The police gathered to contain the unruly mob.

Translations

wild

• Arabic: متوحش (ar) (mutawáHHish), خارج عن السيطرة (ar)
• Finnish: kuriton (fi)
• French: indiscipliné (fr), désobéissant (fr), incontrôlable (fr)

• Persian: سرکش (fa) (sarkeš), نافرمان (fa) (nâfarmân)
• Portuguese: descontrolado (pt), desgovernado (pt)
• Spanish: revoltoso (es), descontrolado (es), incontrolable (es)