adjective, haugh·ti·er, haugh·ti·est.
- disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious: haughty aristocrats; a haughty salesclerk.
- Archaic. lofty or noble; exalted.
adjective -tier or -tiest
- having or showing arrogance
- archaic noble or exalted
1550s, from haughty + -ness. Earlier was haughtness (late 15c.).
1520s, an extension of haught (q.v.) “high in one’s own estimation” by addition of -y (2) on model of might/mighty, naught/naughty, etc. Middle English also had hautif in this sense (mid-15c., from Old French hautif). Related: Haughtily.