Etymology dictionary

squeaky (adj.) — stalag (n.)

squeaky (adj.)

"characterized by squeaking sounds, inclined to squeak," 1823, from squeak (n.) + -y (2).

Squeaky clean in the figurative sense of "morally unsullied, untainted by scandal, etc.," is by 1962. The phrase is used by 1938 in reference to a head of hair; by 1947 it was being used also in advertisements for devices to clean dishes and it figured in ads for GE dishwashers in the 1950s and '60s, as well as real estate listings.

The image of the squeaky wheel that gets the grease (attention), popularized 1933 by U.S. politician Henry Wallace, is attested by 1929 in a Texas newspaper service station advertisement. Related: Squeakily; squeakiness.

squeal (v.)

c. 1300, squelen, "sharp, shrill cry or series of cries; a squall or scream (of a child)," probably of imitative origin, similar to Old Norse skvala "to cry out" (see squall (v.)). The slang sense of "inform on another" is first recorded 1865. Related: Squealed; squealing. The noun is attested from 1747, "a prolonged, sharp cry."

squeamish (adj.)

late 14c., squaimish, "physically repelled; excessively fastidious," a variant (with -ish) of squaimous, squoymous "disdainful, fastidious" (early 14c.), from Anglo-French escoymous, which is of unknown origin.

A variant squeamy is attested by 1838. Century Dictionary suggests the sense of "slightly nauseated, apt to be nauseated" (1650s) is in part by association with qualmish "slightly nauseated" (see qualm). The historical forms of the word illustrate qu-/squ- alterations (compare squash (v.)); the variant squeasy (1580s) seems to be by influence of queasy. "Mark Twain" (1867) uses squalmish in reference to a sense of seasickness. Related: Squeamishly; squeamishness.

squeegee (n.)

"wooden scraping instrument with a rubber blade, stout strip of soft rubber set in a wooden handle," 1844, a nautical word originally, earlier squilgee, squillagee (Dana, 1840), "a small swab made of untwisted yarns. Figuratively, a lazy mean fellow" [Smythe], perhaps from squeege "to press, make one's way by pressure" (1782), an alteration of squeeze (v.). Later in photography, then window-washing. As a verb, "use a squeegee on," by 1885.

squeeze (v.)

c. 1600, "press forcibly" (transitive), perhaps an alteration of quease (Middle English quisen), from Old English cwysan "to squeeze," a word of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare German quetschen "to squeeze"). It perhaps also has been altered by influence of many words of similar sound and related sense (squash, squat, squish, squirt, squelch).

The meaning "produce or procure by application of pressure" is by 1650s. The intransitive sense of "press, push, or force one's way into or through" is attested from 1680s. The baseball squeeze play "sacrifice bunt to score a runner from third" is so called by 1905. The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has squeeze-crab "A sour-looking, shrivelled, diminutive fellow."

squeeze (n.)

1610s, "act of squeezing," from squeeze (v.). Main squeeze "most important person" is attested from 1896; meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980. The slang expression put the squeeze on (someone or something) "exert influence on" is by 1902; squeeze (n.) figuratively as "pressure or influence exerted" is by 1711.

squeezable (adj.)

"admitting of being squeezed," 1813, from squeeze + -able. Related: Squeezability.

squelch (v.)

1620s, "to fall, drop, or stomp (on something soft) with crushing force," possibly suggestive of the sound made. The figurative sense of "suppress completely" is recorded by 1864. Related: Squelched; squelching.

squib (n.)

1520s, "short bit of sarcastic writing, witty scoff, petty lampoon," a word of unknown origin. If the meaning "small firework that burns with a hissing noise" (also 1520s) is the original one, the word might be imitative. By 1580s as "paltry, insignificant fellow."

squid (n.)

"ten-armed marine mollusk, cuttlefish," 1610s, a word of unknown origin. Klein's sources suggest it is a sailors' variant of squirt and so called for the "ink" it jets.

squiggle (v.)

"to work or move about like an eel, squirm, wriggle," 1804, probably a blend of squirm and wriggle. Related: Squiggled; squiggling.

squiggle (n.)

1902, "a curling twist" (of hair), from squiggle (v.). In reference to handwriting, drawing, etc., "wavy or twisted line," by 1928. Related: Squiggly (1891).

squinch (v.)

"screw up, distort," in reference to a face, by 1834, colloquial, implied in squinched. It also was a colloquial verb in American English for "repress, slake" (a thirst, appetite, etc.). Cooper's Pathfinder (1840) threatens an enemy that a fire he sets will be "squinched in his own blood."

Or perhaps it is related to squinch (n.) an architectural term for "narrow opening in a building" (c. 1600), used by 19c for a small arch across the angle of a square tower. Also compare squink-eyed (1630s), variant of squint-eyed, so perhaps it is at least partly an altered form of squint. Related: Squinching. The sense of "squeeze oneself into a more compact posture is by 1844.

squint (n.)

"non-coincidence of the optic axes, permanent tendency to look obliquely," 1650s, from squint (adj.). The meaning "sidelong glance" is from 1660s.

squint (v.)

"look askew, look askance," 1590s, from squint (adj.). Related: Squinted; squinting.

squint (adj.)

1570s, of the eyes, "looking different ways; looking obliquely," shortened form of asquint (adv.). The meaning "looking indirectly, looking askance" is from 1610s.

squire (v.)

of a man, "escort (a woman), attend (a lady) as a gallant, attend or wait upon as a squire upon his lord," late 14c., squieren, from squire (n.). Related: Squired; squiring.

squire (n.)

early 13c., squier, "young man who attends a knight," later "member of the landowning class ranking below a knight" (c. 1300), from Old French esquier "squire," literally "shield carrier" (see esquire).

The general meaning "country gentleman, landed proprietor," especially if also a local justice of the peace, is from 1670s; as a polite term of address to a gentleman, it is attested by 1828. A petty one may be a squirelet (1832), squireling (1680s), squiret (1838), or squireen (Irish). Squirearchy (1789, Henry Grattan) was "rule by country gentlemen."

squirm (v.)

"to wriggle, writhe," 1690s, dialectal, originally referring to eels, of unknown origin; sometimes it has been associated with worm or swarm, but perhaps rather it is imitative. The figurative sense of "be painfully affected, to writhe on the inside, mentally or emotionally" is by 1804. Related: Squirmed; squirming. As a noun by 1839, "a writhing, wriggling motion."

squirrely (adj.)

also squirrelly, 1876, “reminiscent in some way of a squirrel,” especially "inclined to rush this way and that unpredictably." from squirrel (n.) + -ly (1). Earlier was squirrelish (1834). Squirrelly is attested by 1895 as “abounding in squirrels.” Related: Squirreliness.

squirrel (v.)

"to hoard up, store away" (as a squirrel does nuts), 1939, from squirrel (n.). Earlier it meant "hunt squirrels" (1580s); "run about or scurry" (1921). Related: Squirreled; squirreling.

squirrel (n.)

"agile, active arboreal rodent with pointed ears and a long, bushy tail," early 14c. (late 12c. as a surname), from Anglo-French esquirel, Old French escurueil "squirrel; squirrel fur" (Modern French écureuil), from Vulgar Latin *scuriolus, diminutive of *scurius "squirrel," variant of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros "a squirrel," literally "shadow-tailed," from skia "shadow" (see Ascians) + oura "tail," from PIE root *ors- "buttocks, backside" (see arse). Perhaps the original notion is "that which makes a shade with its tail," but Beekes writes that this "looks like a folk etymology rather than a serious explanation." The Old English word was acweorna, which survived into Middle English as aquerne.

The native English squirrel is the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris); the grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are North American, introduced deliberately in England in late 19c. Squirrel also from Middle English could mean the fur of the squirrel, as an article of trade or on the manufacture of clothing; it was somewhat fashionable 19c.-20c.

"The Kingis Quair" (c. 1500) has "The lytill squerell, full of besyness." Squirrels have been figurative of scatter-brained activity in English at least since c. 1400; a 1637 polemical text has "squirrel-headed young men;" the adjective also was used by Harry S. Truman in 1953.

squirt (v.)

late 15c., squirten, squyrten "to spit water from the mouth" (intransitive), a word of uncertain origin, perhaps via Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, probably ultimately imitative. The transitive sense of "cause to issue in a sudden jet or stream" is from 1580s. The transitive meaning "issue in a stream with sudden force" is by 1858. Related: Squirted; squirting. Squirt-gun "syringe" is attested from 1803 (in a satire of medical fads):

As a toy, by 1871.

squirt (n.)

late 14c., "diarrhea," from squirt (v.); early 15c. as "a syringe, instrument from which a liquid may be ejected." The meaning "jet of liquid" is from 1620s. The sense of "whipper-snapper; small, insignificant, self-assertive person" is by 1839.

squish (v.)

"squeeze, squash," 1640s, probably a variant of squash (v.), perhaps by influence of obsolete squiss "to squeeze or crush" (1550s). Related: Squished; squishing.

squishy (adj.)

"soft and wet," 1847, from squish + -y (2). Related: Squishily; squishiness.

squiz (v.)

"to look at," 1916, Australian, perhaps a blend of squint and quiz.

*sreu-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to flow."

It forms all or part of: amenorrhea; catarrh; diarrhea; gonorrhea; hemorrhoids; maelstrom; rheo-; rheology; rheostat; rheum; rheumatic; rheumatism; rheumatoid; rhinorrhea; rhythm; seborrhea; stream.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sravati "flows," srotah "stream;" Avestan thraotah- "stream, river," Old Persian rauta "river;" Greek rhein "to flow," rheos "a flowing, stream," rhythmos "rhythm," rhytos "fluid, liquid;" Old Irish sruaim, Irish sruth "stream, river;" Welsh ffrwd "stream;" Old Norse straumr, Old English stream; Lettish strauma "stream, river;" Lithuanian sravėti "to trickle, ooze;" Old Church Slavonic struja "river," o-strovu "island," literally "that which is surrounded by a river;" Polish strumień "brook."

Sri Lanka

large island southeast of India (known in English before 1972 as Ceylon), from Lanka, older name for the island and its chief city, + Sanskrit sri "beauty" (used especially of divinities, kings, heroes, etc.), also an honorific prefix to proper names, from PIE root *kreie- "to be outstanding, brilliant, masterly, beautiful," found in Greek (kreon "lord, master") and Indo-Iranian. Related: Sri Lankan.

SRO

1941, initialism (acronym) for standing room only.

ss

in old documents, an abbreviation of saints, or of scilicet, in legal documents.

SSR

1926, from Russian, initialism (acronym) for Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika "Soviet Socialist Republic."

*sta-

*stā-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stand, set down, make or be firm," with derivatives meaning "place or thing that is standing."

It forms all or part of: Afghanistan; Anastasia; apostasy; apostate; armistice; arrest; assist; astatic; astatine; Baluchistan; bedstead; circumstance; consist; constable; constant; constitute; contrast; cost; desist; destination; destine; destitute; diastase; distance; distant; ecstasy; epistasis; epistemology; establish; estaminet; estate; etagere; existence; extant; Hindustan; histidine; histo-; histogram; histology; histone; hypostasis; insist; instant; instauration; institute; interstice; isostasy; isostatic; Kazakhstan; metastasis; obstacle; obstetric; obstinate; oust; Pakistan; peristyle; persist; post (n.1) "timber set upright;" press (v.2) "force into service;" presto; prostate; prostitute; resist; rest (v.2) "to be left, remain;" restitution; restive; restore; shtetl; solstice; stable (adj.) "secure against falling;" stable (n.) "building for domestic animals;" stage; stalag; stalwart; stamen; -stan; stance; stanchion; stand; standard; stanza; stapes; starboard; stare decisis; stasis; -stat; stat; state (n.1) "circumstances, conditions;" stater; static; station; statistics; stator; statue; stature; status; statute; staunch; (adj.) "strong, substantial;" stay (v.1) "come to a halt, remain in place;" stay (n.2) "strong rope which supports a ship's mast;" stead; steed; steer (n.) "male beef cattle;" steer (v.) "guide the course of a vehicle;" stem (n.) "trunk of a plant;" stern (n.) "hind part of a ship;" stet; stoa; stoic; stool; store; stound; stow; stud (n.1) "nailhead, knob;" stud (n.2) "horse kept for breeding;" stylite; subsist; substance; substitute; substitution; superstition; system; Taurus; understand.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit tisthati "stands;" Avestan histaiti "to stand;" Persian -stan "country," literally "where one stands;" Greek histēmi "put, place, cause to stand; weigh," stasis "a standing still," statos "placed," stylos "pillar;" Latin sistere "stand still, stop, make stand, place, produce in court," status "manner, position, condition, attitude," stare "to stand," statio "station, post;" Lithuanian stojuos "I place myself," statau "I place;" Old Church Slavonic staja "place myself," stanu "position;" Gothic standan, Old English standan "to stand," stede "place;" Old Norse steði "anvil;" Old Irish sessam "the act of standing."

stab (v.)

late 14c., stabben, "to thrust" (a pointed weapon, into someone); c. 1400, "aim a blow" with a dagger, etc., in early use in Scottish and Northern English, apparently a dialectal variant of the form that became later Scottish stob "to pierce, stab," from stob (n.), which is perhaps a variant of stub (n.) "stake, nail," but Barnhart finds this "doubtful."

The transitive sense of "puncture, pierce, or wound with or as with a pointed weapon" is by 1520s. Figurative use, of emotions, etc., "to pierce, inflict keen pain," is from 1590s. Related: Stabbed; stabbing.

stab (n.)

mid-15c., stabbe, "wound produced by stabbing," from or related to stab (v.). The meaning "act of stabbing, thrust or blow with the point of a weapon" is from 1520s.

The meaning "a try" is recorded by 1895, American English, probably on the notion of "a vigorous thrust." The verb was long used in reference to a wound given treacherously; stab in the back in the figurative sense "treacherous deed" is attested by 1881; the verbal phrase in the figurative sense is from 1888.

Stabat Mater

sequence in the Catholic liturgy, also a musical setting of it, from Latin Stabat Mater dolorosa "Stood the Mother (of Jesus) full of sorrow," the opening words of a sequence composed 13c. by Jacobus de Benedictis. Latin stabat is third person singular imperfect indicative of stare "to stand" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

stability (n.)

mid-14c., stabilite, of persons or character, "firmness of resolve, mental equilibrium, steadfastness," from Old French stablete, establete "firmness, solidity, stability; durability, constancy" (Modern French stabilité), from Latin stabilitatem (nominative stabilitas) "a standing fast, firmness," figuratively "security, steadfastness," from stabilis "steadfast, firm" (see stable (adj.)). The notion is "ability to remain in some condition or position in spite of influences."

Of political or social orders from late 14c. In a physical sense, "state of being difficult to overthrow, power of remaining upright," it is recorded from early 15c. The meaning "continuance in the same state" is from 1540s.

stabilizer (n.)

"device intended to give stability," 1909 in reference to the arrangement on the tail of an aircraft, agent noun from stabilize (v.).

stabilization (n.)

also stabilisation, "action of rendering stable," 1881, noun of action from stabilize.

stabilize (v.)

also stabilise, 1861, "render stable, give stability to," originally of ships; probably a back-formation from stability, or else from French stabiliser. Related: Stabilized; stabilizing. Earlier verbs in the same sense were stabilitate "make stable; establish" (1640s) and simple stable (v.) "make steady or firm, make stable" (c. 1300), from Old French establir. Browning (!871) used stabilify "render stable, fixed, or firm."

stable (n.)

early 13c., "building or enclosure with stalls where horses or cows are kept, building for domestic animals," from Old French stable, estable "a stable, stall" (Modern French étable), also applied to cowsheds and pigsties, and directly from Latin stabulum "a stall, fold, aviary, beehive, lowly cottage, brothel, etc.," etymologically "a standing place" (from PIE *ste-dhlo-, suffixed form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

The meaning "collection of horses belonging to a particular (racing) stable" is attested from 1570s; the transferred sense of "group of fighters under same management" is from 1897; that of "group of prostitutes working for the same employer" is by 1937.

stable (v.)

"put (a horse) in a stable," early 14c., stablen, from stable (n.) or from Old French establer, establir (see establish). Stabler "one who provides food and accommodation for horses" is attested by late 12c. as a surname. A different Middle English stablen meant "put in a certain place or position; institute, enact, establish," from Old French establir and directly from Latin stabilire. Related: Stabled; stabling.

stable (adj.)

mid-12c., "trustworthy, reliable;" mid-13c., "constant, steadfast; virtuous;" from Old French stable, estable "constant, steadfast, unchanging," from Latin stabilis "firm, steadfast, stable, fixed," figuratively "durable, unwavering," etymologically "able to stand" (from PIE *stedhli-, suffixed form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

It is attested from c. 1300 as "firm, fixed; well-founded, well-established, secure" (of governments, etc.). The physical sense of "secure against falling" is recorded from late 14c., as is the meaning "of even temperament." Of nuclear isotopes, from 1904. Related: Stably.

stable-boy (n.)

"boy who works in a stable," 1729, from stable (n.) + boy (n.). Stable-man "ostler, groom" also is from 1729. Stable-groom is from late 15c.; stabler from late 12c. as a surname.

stablish (v.)

c. 1300, archaic form of establish (v.). Related: Stablishment (n.), which in some particular uses was further shortened to stab.

staccato (adv.)

in music, "separated from one another by slight pauses" (opposed to legato), 1724, from Italian staccato, literally "detached, disconnected," past participle of staccare "to detach," shortened form of distaccare "separate, detach," from French destacher, from Old French destachier "to detach" (see detach). As an adverb from 1844. Related: Staccatissimo "very staccato."

stack (v.)

early 14c., stakken, "to pile up (grain) into a stack," from stack (n.). It was used by c. 1500 in a general sense of "build in the form of a stack." The meaning "arrange (a deck of cards) unfairly" (in stack the deck) is attested by 1825. To stack up "compare against" is 1903, from notion of piles of poker chips (1896). In reference to multiple aircraft waiting to land at the same strip, by 1941. Related: Stacked; Stacking.

stacked (adj.)

1796, of hay, past-participle adjective from stack (v.). Of women, "well-built physically; curved in a way considered sexually desirable," 1942.

stack (n.)

c. 1300, stak, "pile, heap, or group of things," especially a pile of grain in the sheaf in circular or rectangular form (late 12c. in surnames), from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse stakkr "haystack" (cognate with Danish stak, Swedish stack "heap, stack"), from Proto-Germanic *stakon- "a stake." This is said to be from PIE *stog- (source also of Old Church Slavonic stogu "heap," Russian stog "haystack," Lithuanian stokas "pillar"), a variant of root *steg- (1) "pole, stick" (see stake (n.)).

Used of chimneys by 1660s, originally in reference to a number of them standing together; in reference to a single chimney for smoke, etc., from a locomotive, steamship, etc., by 1825. The meaning "set of shelves on which books are set out" is from 1879. Of computer data from 1960.

stadial (adj.)

"of the length of a stadium," the ancient unit of measure, late 14c., from Latin stadialis "of or pertaining to a stadium" (see stadium).

stadium (n.)

mid-14c., stadie, "a foot race, a racecourse;" early 15c., "ancient measure of distance," from Latin stadium (plural stadia) "a measure of length" (variously reckoned, commonly one-eighth of a Roman mile or a little over 600 standard English feet; translated in early English Bibles by furlong); also "a stage, a station; a course for foot-racers;" from Greek stadion "a measure of length; a race-course, a running track," especially the track at Olympia, which was one stadion in length.

"Originally the distance between successive stations of the shouters and runners employed to estimate distances," extended to the course itself [Century Dictionary].

According to Barnhart, the notion in the Greek word might be "fixed standard of length, that which stands fast" (from stadios "firm, fixed," from PIE root *sta- "to stand"). Beekes does not seem to connect them, however, and allows rather that stadion is "Perhaps an original folk-etymological transformation" of Greek spadion "race-track," which is a derivative of span "to draw up, pull" (compare spasm), perhaps on the notion of "the lengthy one." If so, the form might be influenced by stadios.

The form in English has been re-Latinized from early modern stade. The meaning "running track" in English is recorded from c. 1600 and was extended to mean "large, open oval structure with tiers of seats for viewing sporting events" (1834). The classical sports stadiums had sloping banks of seats for spectators along two sides and one end.

staff (n.)

Middle English staf, "stick or pole," especially one about 5 or 6 feet long and carried in the hand, from Old English stæf (plural stafas), "walking stick, strong pole used for carrying, rod used as a weapon, pastoral staff," probably originally *stæb, from Proto-Germanic *stab- (source also of Old Saxon staf, Old Norse stafr, Danish stav, Old Frisian stef, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch staf, Old High German stab, German Stab, Gothic *stafs "element;" Middle Dutch stapel "pillar, foundation").

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *stebh- "post, stem, to support, place firmly on, fasten" (source also of Old Lithuanian stabas "idol," Lithuanian stiebas "staff, pillar;" Old Church Slavonic stoboru "pillar;" Sanskrit stabhnati "supports;" Greek stephein "to tie around, encircle, wreathe," staphyle "grapevine, bunch of grapes;" Old English stapol "post, pillar"). It is thus thought to be not connected to stiff.

Many extended senses are from the notion of "that which upholds or supports, that which sustains" such as staff of life "bread," from the Biblical phrase break the staff of bread meaning "cut off the supply of food" (Leviticus xxvi.26), translating Hebrew matteh lekhem. As "pole from which a flag is flown," 1610s. In reference to the horizontal lines in musical notation, from 1660s.

Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander but are not in charge of troops" is attested from 1702, apparently from German, from the notion of the baton that is a badge of office or authority (a sense attested in English from 1530s); hence staff officer (1702), staff-sergeant (1811). In this sense staffs is the usual plural. The meaning "group of employees (as at an office or hospital)" is attested by 1837.

Old English stæf, in plural, was the common word for "letter of the alphabet, character," hence "writing, literature," and its use in Old English compounds having to do with writing, such as stæfcræft "grammar," stæfcræftig "lettered," stæflic "literary," stæfleahtor "grammatical error," with leahtor "vice, sin, offense."

staff (v.)

"to provide with a body of assistants," 1859, from staff (n.). Related: Staffed; staffing.

staffer (n.)

"staff-writer," 1949, in journalism, from staff-writer (1878); from staff (n.) in the "group of employees" sense. Also see -er (1).

Stafford

city in England, mid-11c., Stæfford, literally "ford by a landing-place," from Old English stæð "river bank, shore" + ford (n.). County town of Staffordshire, which, as a name for a type of earthenware and porcelain made there is attested from 1765 (Staffordshire ware).

The city was noted in medieval England as a source of blue cloth, hence the 15c. phrase clothe in Stafford blue "beat (someone) black and blue."

staff-room (n.)

"a room set aside for the use of staff," 1925, from staff (n.) + room (n.).

stag (n.)

"adult male of the deer," especially one at 4 or 5 years, late 12c., stagge, which is probably from Old English stagga "a stag," from Proto-Germanic *stag-, from PIE root *stegh- "to stick, prick, sting," and probably so called for its tines. The Old Norse equivalent was used of male foxes, tomcats, and dragons; and the Germanic root word perhaps originally meant "male animal in its prime."

The adjectival meaning "pertaining to or composed of males only" (as in stag party, attested by 1853) is American English slang from 1837 (in stag dance). Compare bull-dance, slang for one performed by men only (1841); gander (n.) also was used in the same sense. Stag film "pornographic movie" is attested from 1968. The stag beetle (1680s) is so called for its branched mandibles, resembling the antlers of a stag.

staging (n.)

"temporary structure or support," early 14c., verbal noun from stage (v.). As an adjective to designate "stopping place or assembly point," 1945, from the noun.

stage (n.)

mid-13c., "horizontal division of a structure, floor or story of a building;" early 14c., "raised platform used for public display" (also of the platform beneath the gallows), from Old French estage "building, dwelling place; stage for performance; phase, stage, rest in a journey" (12c., Modern French étage, only in the sense "story of a house, stage, floor, loft"), from Vulgar Latin *staticum "a place for standing," from Latin statum, past participle of stare "to stand" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

The etymological notion is "standing place, something to stand on," hence "place where anything is publicly exhibited." The meaning "platform for speakers, performers, or presentation of a play" is attested from late 14c.; the stage as a general term for "profession of an actor, dramatic composition or acting" is from 1580s.

The sense of "period of development or time in life" is recorded by early 14c., probably from the Middle English sense of "degree or step on the 'ladder' of virtue, the 'wheel' of fortune, etc.," in parable illustrations and morality plays. The meaning "level of water in a river, etc." is from 1814, American English.

The meaning "single step in a sequence or gradual process, stage of a journey" is by late 14c. Hence "roadside stopping place, place of rest on a journey or where horses are changed" (c. 1600), the sense in stagecoach.

Stage-name is from 1727. Stage-mother (n.) in the overbearing mother-of-an-actress sense is from 1915. Stage-box "proscenium box" is by 1739. Stage-door, giving access to a stage, is from 1761; hence Stage-Door Johnny "young man who frequents stage doors seeking the company of actresses, chorus girls, etc." (1907). Stage whisper, a loud one, as used by an actor on stage to be heard by the audience, is attested by 1865. Stage-direction is attested by 1790.

staged (adj.)

1560s, "appearing or acting on a stage" (a sense now obsolete), past-participle adjective from stage (v.). Of a play, "upon the stage," by 1904. The meaning "proceeding in stages" is from 1960.

stage (v.)

mid-14c., stagen, "to erect, construct," from stage (n.). The meaning "put into or represent (a person) in a play or on stage" is from c. 1600; that of "put (a play) on the stage" is by 1879; the general sense of "to mount" (a comeback, an attack, etc.) is attested from 1924. Related: Staged; staging.

stagecoach (n.)

also stage-coach, "coach that runs by stages, carrying passengers between two places," 1650s, from stage (n.) in a sense of "division of a journey without stopping for rest" (c. 1600) + coach (n.). As stage, for short, by 1670s.

stagecraft (n.)

also stage-craft, "the part of the art of drama concerned with representations on stage," 1848, from stage (n.) + craft (n.).

stage-fright (n.)

"nervousness at facing an audience," especially for the first time, 1826, from stage (n.) + fright (n.). Stage-fever in the same sense is by 1861.

stage-hand (n.)

"one employed in a theater to move scenery, etc.," 1865, from stage (n.) + hand (n.).

stage-manager (n.)

"superintendent of the production and performance of a play," 1755, from stage (n.) in the theatrical sense + manager. Stage-manage (v.) is attested from 1871; the figurative sense is by 1911. Related: Stage-managed; stage-management (1756).

stage-struck (adj.)

"possessed by a passionate desire to perform on stage," 1756, from stage (n.) + past-participle adjective from strike (v.). Earlier in the same sense was stage-smitten (1680s).

stagflation (n.)

1965, apparently coined by U.K. politician Iain Macleod (1913-1970), from stag(nation) + (in)flation.

staggard (n.)

"stag in its fourth year," thus not quite full-grown, c. 1400, from stag (n.) + -ard.

stagger (v.)

mid-15c., "walk unsteadily, reel" (intransitive), altered from stakeren (early 14c.), which is from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Danish stagra, Old Norse stakra "to push, shove, cause to reel," also "to stumble, stagger"), cognate with Dutch staggelen "to stagger," German staggeln "to stammer," and compare Middle Dutch staggeren "stagger as a drunken man."

The transitive sense of "cause to stagger, bewilder, amaze" is recorded by 1550s; that of "arrange in a zig-zag pattern" is from 1856. The meaning "arrange" (times, etc.) so that they do not coincide" is by 1918. Related: Staggered; staggering.

staggering (adj.)

"amazing, causing to reel in astonishment," 1560s, figurative present-participle adjective from stagger (v.). The literal sense of "reeling, tottering" is by 1570s. Related: Staggeringly.

stagger (n.)

c. 1600, "a sudden tottering motion," from stagger (v.). The staggers is by 1570s as a brain and spinal disease of domestic animals, so called for the symptom; hence various names of plants (staggerwort, stagger-grass) supposed to cause or cure it.

stag-horn (n.)

also staghorn, 1660s, "the horn of a stag," from stag (n.) + horn (n.). By 1741 as a type of moss; 1884 as a type of coral.

stagy (adj.)

also stagey, "of or appropriate to the stage; savoring of the stage, theatrical," in a depreciatory sense, 1845, from stage (n.) in the theatrical sense + -y (2). Related: Staginess.

stagnant (adj.)

1660s, of water or other liquid, "standing, motionless;" hence also figurative, "sluggish, inert, inactive," from French stagnant (early 17c.), from Latin stagnantem (nominative stagnans), present participle of stagnare "to stagnate" (see stagnate). Related: Stagnancy (1650s); stagnantly.

stagnate (v.)

1660s, "cease to run or flow, be or become stagnant, stand without current," from Latin stagnatum, stagnatus, past participle of stagnare "to stagnate," from stagnatum "standing water, pond, swamp," perhaps from a PIE root *stag- "to seep drip" (source also of Greek stazein "to ooze, drip;" see stalactite). The figurative sense of "cease to be brisk or active" is by 1709. Related: Stagnated; stagnating.

stagnation (n.)

"condition of being stagnant, cessation of flow," 1660s, noun of action from stagnate (v.). The figurative sense of "unhealthy absence of activity" is by 1711.

stay (n.1)

"a support, prop, brace, something that steadies something else," early 14c., stai, from Old French estaie "piece of wood used as a support," which is perhaps from Frankish *staka "support" or some other Germanic word. The source is Proto-Germanic *stagaz (source also of Middle Dutch stake "stick," Old English steli "steel," stæg "rope used to support a mast"), from PIE *stak- "to stand, place" (see stay (n.2)).

In some senses the English word is from or influenced by stay (v.2) "support, sustain." For the sense of "waistcoat stiffened with whalebone, etc.," see stays.

stay (n.3)

1520s, "continuance in a place; stationary position, standstill," from stay (v.1). The meaning "a stop, a halt, a break or cessation of action" is by 1530s; the legal sense of "suspension of judicial proceedings" is from 1540s.

stays (n.)

"corset; stiffened laced underbodice; kind of waistcoat stiffened with whalebone, etc., to give a desired shape to the body," c. 1600, from plural of stay (n.1) "support, prop, brace" in this sense. For the plural, compare bodice.

stay (n.2)

"strong rope which supports a ship's mast," Middle English stai, Anglo-French estai, from Old English stæg "rope used to support a mast," from Proto-Germanic *stagaz (source also of Dutch stag, Low German stach, German Stag, Old Norse stag "stay of a ship"), from PIE *stak- "to stand, place" (perhaps ultimately an extended form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

The Romanic words (Old French estai, French étai, Spanish estay) are from Germanic. Transferred by 1530s to other supporting ropes or wires.

stay (v.1)

mid-15c., steien, transitive, "detain, hold back," from Old French estai-, stem of estare "to stay or stand," from Latin stare "to stand, stand still, remain standing; be upright, be erect; stand firm, stand in battle; abide; be unmovable; be motionless; remain, tarry, linger; take a side," (source also of Italian stare, Spanish estar "to stand, to be"), from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm."

Originally in Middle English also intransitive, "cease going forward, come to a halt," a sense now obsolete. The meaning "remain" (as opposed to "depart, go away") is recorded from 1570s but is implied earlier in late 14c. surname Steyhame. The meaning "reside as a guest for a short period" is from 1550s.

Of things, "remain in place," 1590s. The transitive sense of "render motionless" is by 1620s. The legal sense of "put off, defer, postpone" is from 1520s. Related: Stayed; staying.

As a word of command or injunction, "pause, stop, cease!" by 1580s. Verbal phrase stay put "remain where placed" is recorded by 1834, American English. "To stay put is to keep still, remain in order. A vulgar expression" [Bartlett]. To come to stay "become permanent" is by 1853. A stay-stomach was (1800) "a snack."

stay (v.2)

"to prop, support, sustain," early 15c., staien, from Old French estaiier (Modern French étayer), originally in nautical use, "secure by stays," from estaie "a support, a prop" (see stay (n.1) and compare stay (n.2)).

The nautical sense in English is attested from 1620s. Related: Stayed; staying. With extended senses is sporting: to stay as "to hold out," in a race or contest, especially "persevere to the end" is by 1834, of horses. Hence to stay with "keep up with" (a competitor), by 1887, and phrase stay the course, originally (1858) in reference to horses sustaining a strong pace to the end of the race. Staying power "capability of continued effort or endurance" is attested by 1855.

staid (adj.)

1540s, "fixed, permanent" (of beliefs, etc.), adjectival use of stayed, past participle of stay (v.). In reference to persons, "sober, sedate," by 1550s. As in Philip Sidney's justice staid, explained by Ruskin as "The desire of what is just, being stayed or restrained within the limits of what can be accomplished by just means." Related: Staidly; staidness.

stain (v.)

mid-14c., steinen, "ornament with a design;" late 14c., "damage or blemish the appearance of," also "impart color, dye;" the word is probably a merger of Old Norse steina "to paint, color, stain," and a shortened form of Middle English disteynen "to discolor or stain," from Old French desteign-, stem of desteindre "to remove the color" (Modern French déteindre). This is from des- (from Latin dis- "remove;" see dis-) + Old French teindre "to dye," from Latin tingere (see tincture).

The figurative meaning "soil or sully with guilt or infamy" is from early 15c. The intransitive sense of "become stained, take stain, absorb coloring matter" is from 1877. In Middle and early modern English it also could figuratively mean "impart beauty to" or "lose color, grow pale." Related: Stained; staining.

stained (adj.)

late 14c., "discolored," also "tainted with guilt; ornamented with colored designs or pictures," past-participle adjective from stain (v.). Stained glass is attested by that name from 1783.

stain (n.)

1560s, "act of staining," from stain (v.). The meaning "a stain mark, discoloration produced by foreign matter" is from 1580s. The meaning "dye used in staining" is from 1758. Figurative meaning "reputational blemish, morally defiling effect" is by 1590s.

stainless (adj.)

"free from spot or stain," 1580s, from stain (n.) + -less. Related: Stainlessly. Stainless steel is from 1917, a chromium-steel alloy (usually 14% chromium) used for cutlery, etc., so called because it is highly resistant to rust or tarnish.

stair (n.)

Middle English steir, from Old English stæger "stair, staircase, flight of steps arranged one behind and above the other," from Proto-Germanic *staigri (source also of Middle Dutch stegher, Dutch steiger "a stair, step, quay, pier, scaffold;" German Steig "path," Old English stig "narrow path").

This is reconstructed to be from PIE *steigh- "go, rise, stride, step, walk" (source also of Greek steikhein "to go, march in order," stikhos "row, line, rank, verse;" Sanskrit stighnoti "mounts, rises, steps;" Old Church Slavonic stignati "to overtake," stigna "place;" Lithuanian staiga "suddenly;" Old Irish tiagaim "I walk;" Welsh taith "going, walk, way").

Originally also a collective plural; stairs developed by late 14c., and stair as "one of a succession of steps leading from one floor to another" is by 1520s. The figurative sense of "step in an ascending or descending scale" is from c. 1200.

staircase (n.)

also stair-case, "part of a building which contains the stairs," 1620s, originally the enclosure of the stairs, from stair + case (n.2) in its sense "frame;" compare former window-case, door-case.

stairway (n.)

"staircase, flight of stairs," 1767, from stair + way (n.).

stairwell (n.)

"shaft in a building containing a flight of stairs," by 1862, from stair + well (n.).

stake (n.1)

"pointed stick or post; stick of wood sharpened at one end for driving into the ground, used as part of a fence, as a boundary-mark, as a post to tether an animal to, or as a support for something (a vine, a tent, etc.)," Old English staca "pin, stake," from Proto-Germanic *stakon (source also of Old Norse stiaki "a stake, pole, candlestick,"Old Frisian stake, Middle Dutch stake, Dutch staak "a stake, post," Middle Low German stake "a stake, post, pillory, prison"), from PIE root *steg- (1) "pole, stick." The Germanic word was borrowed in Romanic (Spanish and Portuguese estaca "a stake," Old French estaque, estache, Italian stacca "a hook"), and was borrowed back as attach.

The specific meaning "post to which a condemned person is bound for death by burning" is from c. 1200, also "post to which a bear to be baited is tied" (late 14c.). The meaning "vertical bar fixed in a socket or in staples on the edge of the bed of a platform railway-car or of a vehicle to secure the load from rolling off, or, when a loose substance, as gravel, etc., is carried, to hold in place boards which retain the load," is by 1875; hence stake-body as a type of truck (1903).

Pull up stakes was used c. 1400 as "abandon a position" (the allusion is to pulling up the stakes of a tent); the modern American English figurative expression in the sense of "move one's habitation" is by 1703.

stake (n.2)

"that which is placed at hazard as a wager, the sum of money or other valuable consideration which is deposited as a pledge or wager to be lost or won according to the issue of a contest or contingency," 1530s, a word of uncertain origin.

Perhaps it is from stake (v.2), which is attested a few years earlier, but both the noun and verb are of uncertain origin. Perhaps literally "that which is fixed or put up," either from a particular use of stake (n.1) "stake, pole," or from the notion of "a post on which a gambling wager was placed" (but OED points out there is "no evidence of the existence of such a custom"). Weekley suggests "there is a tinge of the burning or baiting metaphor" in this usage.

The meaning "the prize in a contest of strength, skill, speed, etc." is by 1620s; plural stakes, "sum of money to be won in a (horse) race," is recorded by 1690s (compare sweepstakes). The meaning "an interest, something to gain or lose" is by 1580s; hence have a stake in "have an interest in the turn of events, have something to gain or lose" (1784). The phrase at stake "state of being laid or pledged as a wager; state of being at hazard or in peril" is from c. 1600.

stake (v.1)

early 13c., staken, "fasten to a stake, tether," from stake (n.1). Also "to impale" (c. 1400). From c. 1400 as "support (a vine, etc.) with stakes, provide with stakes or poles."

From early 14c. as "divide or lay off and mark (land) with stakes or posts," now usually with out (mid-15c.) or off. Hence, stake a claim "make and register a land claim" (by 1851, American English), often in a figurative sense (by 1876).

The meaning "maintain surveillance (of a place) to detect criminal activity" (usually stake out) is recorded by 1942, American English, probably from the earlier sense of "mark off territory." Related: Staked; staking.

Compare Middle Dutch, Middle Low German staken, also from the nouns, and Old French estachier, Spanish estacar, from their respective nouns, which were borrowed from Germanic. Old English had stacung "piercing of an effigy by a pin or stake" (in witchcraft), and a verb staccan "pierce with a stake, spit."

stake (v.2)

"to risk, wager, put at hazard or risk upon a future contingency," 1520s, perhaps from the notion of "place a gambling wager on a post" or generally "put up something to be won or lost at a wager" (see stake (n.2)). Related: Staked; staking.

stake-holder (n.)

also stakeholder, 1708, "one with whom bets are deposited when a wager is made," from stake (n.2) + agent noun from hold (v.). Originally one with whom bets are deposited when a wager is made. By 1965 as "one who has something to gain or lose" (in a business, etc.), "one who has an interest in" (something).

stake-out (n.)

"act of surveillance (of a place) to detect criminal activity or find a wanted person," by 1942, American English, from the verbal phrase in this sense, from stake (v.2) + out (adv.). The verbal phrase is from mid-15c. as "determine or mark (a boundary) with stakes."

Stakhanovite (n.)

in reference to an efficiency system in which workers increase their piecework production and are rewarded with bonuses and privileges, 1935, from name of hard-working Soviet coal miner Aleksei Grigorevich Stakhanov (1906-1977). Soviet authorities publicized his prodigious output as part of a campaign to increase productivity.

stalactite (n.)

"hanging formation of carbonite of lime from the roof of a cave," 1670s, Englished from Modern Latin stalactites (used 1654 by Olaus Wormius), from Greek stalaktos "dripping, oozing out in drops," from stalassein "to trickle, drip, shed drops," from PIE root *stag- "to seep, drip, drop" (source also of German stallen, Lithuanian telžiu, telžti "to urinate"). But Beekes finds the proposed PIE root "not very convincing" on limited distribution and vague semantics. Also see noun suffix -ite (1). Related: Stalactic; stalactical; stalactitic; stalactiform.

stalag (n.)

"German POW camp," 1940, from German Stalag, short for stammlager "main camp," from Old High German stam "stem" (from Proto-Germanic *stamniz, from suffixed form of PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm") + Lager "bed, lair, camp, storehouse," from Old High German legar "bed, lair," from Proto-Germanic *legraz, from PIE root *legh- "to lie down, lay."