Etymology dictionary

stock (adj.) — stowage (n.)

stock (adj.)

in reference to conversation, literature, "recurring, commonplace" (as in stock phrase), 1738, a figurative use from the sense of "kept in store for constant use" (1620s), from stock (n.2) "supply for future use."

stockade (n.)

1610s, "a barrier of stakes," a nativization of Spanish estacada, from estaca "stake," from a Germanic source cognate with Old English staca, see stake (n.1)). The meaning "military prison" is recorded by 1865. As a verb from 1755.

stock-broker (n.)

"one who, for a commission, attends to the buying and selling of stocks and securities on behalf of clients," 1706, from stock (n.2) in the financial sense + broker (n.).

stock-car (n.)

racing car with a basic chassis of an ordinary commercially produced vehicle, 1914, American English, from stock (n.2) + car. Earlier "a railroad car used to transport livestock" (1858).

stock-holder (n.)

"one who is a proprietor of (financial) stocks," 1753, from stock (n.2) + agent noun from hold (v.).

Stockholm

capital city of Sweden; the place arose mid-13c. from a fishing village; the second element in the name is holm "island" (see holm); the first is either stäk "bay" or stock "stake, pole." Related: Stockholmer.

Stockholm Syndrome is from 1978, a psychologists' term; the name derives from the Aug. 23, 1973, violent armed robbery of Sveriges Kreditbank in Stockholm. Four bank employees were held hostage in a vault for more than five days during which time the hostages developed a dramatic attachment to their abuser, and a fear of would-be rescuers, that they later could not explain.

stocky (adj.)

c. 1400, stokki, "made of wood" (a sense now obsolete), from stock (n.1). Of plants, "of stout and sturdy growth" (not weedy) it is recorded from 1620s. Of persons, "thick-set, short and stumpy," 1670s, suggestive of tree trunks, but compare also stock in obsolete sense of "trunk of the human body" (attested from late 14c.).

stockinet (n.)

also stockinette, elastic, machine-made fabric used for undergarments, 1824, from stocking + diminutive ending -et.

stock market (n.)

"place where securities are bought and sold," 1809, from stock (n.2) in the investment sense + market (n.). Stock exchange "building where stocks are bought and sold" is attested from 1773.

The original Stock Market (mid-14c.) was a fish and meat market in the City of London on or near the later site of Mansion House, so called perhaps because it occupied the site of a former stocks.

stockpile (n.)

1872, originally a term in mining, "amount of coal or ore piled at the surface after mining," from stock (n.2) + pile (n.). It was extended to general use by 1942 in reference to World War II economic policies. The verb is attested from 1921. Related: Stockpiled; stockpiling.

stock-room (n.)

also stockroom, "room in which supplies of goods or material ready for sale are kept," 1825, originally among stationers, from stock (n.2) + room (n.).

stock-still (adj.)

"perfectly still," late 15c., etymologically "as still as a post, as still as a tree trunk;" see stock (n.1) + still (adj.). Compare Dutch stokstil, German stockstill. Also earlier stone-still (early 14c.).

stockyard (n.)

also stock-yard, "enclosure for sorting and keeping cattle, swine, sheep, etc.," later typically connected with a railroad or slaughter-house, 1802, from stock (n.1) in the "farm animals" sense + yard (n.1).

stodgy (adj.)

1823, "thick, semi-solid," from colloquial stodge "to stuff, satiate" (1670s), a word of unknown origin, perhaps somehow imitative. The meaning "dull, heavy" developed by 1874 from use of stodge (n.) in reference to food (1841).

stogie (n.)

also stogy, type of large cheap cigar, 1869, colloquial; the word is attested by 1835 as an adjective meaning "rough, heavy, coarse" (of work shoes, etc.); also of cigars, "long, cheap" (1861); it is based on variant shortenings of Conestoga, the name of an important agricultural region near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Both items were so-called because favored by drivers of the Conestoga style of covered wagons that were associated with that region (which also was noted for a breed of strong horses).

As a noun, stoga for "rough boot" is by 1830. Also compare Jamieson's Scottish dialectal stoggie "rough in a general sense," of cloth, "coarse and rough" (1825).

stoic (n.)

late 14c., "philosopher of the school founded by Zeno" (c. 334-c. 262 B.C.E.), from Latin stoicus, from Greek stoikos "pertaining to a member of or the teachings of the school founded by Zeno, characterized by austere ethical doctrines," literally "pertaining to a portico," from stoa "porch," specifically Stoa Poikile "the Painted Porch," the great hall in Athens (decorated with frescoes depicting the Battle of Marathon) where Zeno taught (see Stoa).

Old English had Stoices (plural); Middle English had Stoiciens. The general meaning "person not easily excited, person who represses feelings or endures patiently" is recorded by 1570s. The adjective is recorded from 1590s in the "repressing feelings" sense, c. 1600 in the philosophical sense. Compare stoical.

stoical (adj.)

early 15c. stoicalle, "pertaining to the Stoics or their teachings," from stoic + -al (2). Related: Stoically. From 1570s as "indifferent to pleasure or pain."

stoichiometry (n.)

also stoicheiometry, "science of calculating the quantities of chemical elements involved in chemical reactions," 1807, from German Stöchiometrie (1792), coined by German chemist Jeremias Benjamin Richter (1762-1807) from Latinized form of Greek stoikheion "one of a row; shadow-line of a sundial," in plural "the elements" (from PIE *steigh- "to stride, step, rise"). Also see -metry "a measuring of." Related: Stoichiometric.

stoicism

1620s, "opinions and maxims of the stoics," from Modern Latin stoicismus, from Latin stoicus (see stoic); also see -ism. Also by 1620s as "a real or feigned indifference to pain or pleasure, calm fortitude." Jonson (1609) had stoicity, from French stoïcité.

stoke (v.)

1680s, "to feed and stir up" (a fire in a fireplace or furnace), a back-formation from stoker "one who maintains a fire in a furnace" (1650s); ultimately from Dutch stoken "to stoke," from Middle Dutch stoken "to poke, thrust," related to stoc "stick, stump," from Proto-Germanic *stok- "pierce, prick" (from PIE *steug-, extended form of root *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat;" see steep (adj.)).

Later especially in reference to fire used as a boiler for a steam engine. The figurative meaning "to stir up, rouse" (feelings, etc.) is from 1837. Stoked "enthusiastic" is recorded in surfer slang by 1963, but the extension of the word to persons is older, originally "to eat, to feed oneself up" (1882).

stoker (n.)

1650s, "one who maintains the fire in a furnace," from Dutch stoker, agent noun from stoken "to stoke" (see stoke (v.)).

stola (n.)

ample outer tunic or dress worn by Roman women, 1728, from Latinized form of Greek stolē (see stole). Plural stolae. "It was a characteristic garment of the Roman matrons, as the toga was of the men, and divorced women and courtezans were not permitted to wear it" [Century Dictionary].

stole (n.)

Middle English stol, from Old English stole "long garment, robe; scarf-like garment worn around the neck or over the shoulder by clergymen," from Latin stola "robe, vestment" (also source of Old French estole, Modern French étole, Spanish estola, Italian stola), from Greek stolē "a long robe;" originally "garment, equipment," from root of stellein "to place, array," with a secondary sense of "to put on" robes, etc. (from PIE root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place).

The meaning "women's long garment of fur or feathers," shaped somewhat like the ecclesiastical stole, is attested from 1889.

stoled (adj.)

"wearing a stole," 1540s; see stole. A verb stolen "to furnish (a church) with altar-stoles" (late 15c.).

stolen (adj.)

"obtained or acquired by stealth or theft," c. 1300, past-participle adjective from steal (v.).

stolidity (n.)

"dullness, stupidity, quality of being impassive," 1560s, from French stolidite and directly from Late Latin stoliditatem (nominative stoliditas) "dullness, obtuseness, stupidity," from Latin stolidus, properly "unmovable" (see stolid).

stolid (adj.)

"heavy, dull, impassive, stupid," c. 1600, back-formation from stolidity, or else from French stolide (16c.), from Latin stolidus "insensible, dull, slow, brutish, rude, stupid," properly "unmovable," related to stultus "foolish" (from PIE *stol-ido-, suffixed form of root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place). Related: Stolidly.

stolon (n.)

in botany, "a shoot, sucker," c. 1600, from Latin stolonem (nominative stolo) "a shoot, branch, sucker," cognate with Greek stēlē "upright slab," stelekhos "trunk, stem, log" (from suffixed form of PIE root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place). Related: Stolonate; stolonial.

stoma (n.)

"orifice, small opening in an animal body," 1680s, in zoology, Modern Latin, from Greek stoma (plural stomata, genitive stomatos) "mouth; mouthpiece; talk, voice; mouth of a river; any outlet or inlet."

This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *stom-en-, denoting various body parts and orifices (source also of Avestan staman- "mouth" (of a dog), Hittite shtamar "mouth," Middle Breton staffn "mouth, jawbone," Cornish stefenic "palate").

In botany, in reference to small slits in leaves, etc., by 1837. The surgical sense is attested by 1937. Related: Stomal.

stomach (v.)

"tolerate, put up with," 1570s, from stomach (n.), probably in reference to digestion. The earlier sense of the verb was rather opposite, "be offended at, resent" (1520s, now obsolete), echoing Latin stomachari "to be resentful, be irritated, be angry," from stomachus (n.) in its secondary sense of "pride, indignation" (see the noun). For this sense also compare Old English belgan (v.) "to become angry," literally "to belly," probably from the notion of "swelling."

A literal sense of "take into the stomach and digest" is attested from 1822, more or less facetious (Praed, the satirist); OED calls it nonce-use." Related: Stomached; stomaching.

stomacher (n.)

mid-15c., "vest or other garment which covers the belly. from stomach (n.) with agent-noun ending. Pugilistic sense of "punch in the belly" is from 1814.

stomach (n.)

late 14c. variant of earlier stomake (early 14c.), "the human stomach, internal pouch of the body into which food is digested," from Old French stomaque, estomac "stomach," from Latin stomachus "throat, gullet; stomach," also "taste, inclination, liking; distaste, dislike;" also "pride, indignation," which were thought to have their origin in that organ (source also of Spanish estómago, Italian stomaco), from Greek stomakhos "throat, gullet, esophagus," literally "mouth, opening," from stoma "mouth" (see stoma). The native word is maw (Old English maga glosses stomachus).

Applied anciently to the openings of various internal organs, especially that of the stomach, then by the later Greek physicians to the stomach itself.

Some 16c. anatomists tried to correct the sense of the word back to "esophagus" and introduce ventricle for what we call the stomach. The meaning "belly, midriff, surface of the body over the stomach" is from c. 1400.

In Middle English also stomack, stomac, stommak, stomoke; the spelling of the ending of the word was conformed to Latin regularly from 16c., but the pronunciation remains as in Middle English. A 19c. attempt to make it look as it sounds yielded stummik (1888), stummock.

Related: Stomachal (1580s); stomachical (c. 1600); stomachic (1650s). Stomachous (1540s), stomachate (1540s, from Latin stomachatus) seem to have been used only in figurative senses.

The classical figurative senses also were in Middle English, such as "relish, inclination, desire; courage, spirit; inmost thoughts, consciousness; temper, disposition" (mid-15c.) or early Modern English, when the stomach was regarded as the seat of thought and emotion as well as hunger. It also sometimes was regarded in Middle Ages as the seat of sexual desire.

stomach-ache (n.)

"pain in the stomach," 1758, from stomach (n.) + ache (v.).

stomatitis (n.)

"inflammation of the interior of the mouth," 1859, from stomato- (before vowels stomat-), modern scientific word-forming element from Greek stoma "mouth" (genitive stomatos; see stoma). With -itis "inflammation."

stomp (v.)

by 1803, American English, a dialectal variant of stamp (v.). Related: Stomped; stomping. Noun meaning "lively social dance" is recorded by 1912 in jazz slang. Stompers "large, heavy shoes" is by 1899. Stomping-ground "one's particular territory" is by 1854, American English, from animals.

stone (n.)

"discrete piece of rock," especially not a large one, Old English stan, which was used of common rocks, precious gems, concretions in the body, memorial stones, from Proto-Germanic *stainaz (source also of Old Norse steinn, Danish steen, Old Saxon sten, Old Frisian sten, Dutch steen, Old High German stein, German Stein, Gothic stains).

This is reconstructed to be from PIE *stoi-no-, suffixed form of root *stai- "stone," also "to thicken, stiffen" (source also of Sanskrit styayate "curdles, becomes hard;" Avestan stay- "heap;" Greek stear "fat, tallow," stia, stion "pebble;" Old Church Slavonic stena, Russian stiena "wall").

From late 12c. as "substance of which stones consist, rock, stone as a medium." The sense of "testicle" was in late Old English. The British measure of weight (usually equal to 14 pounds) is from late 14c., originally a specific stone.

Stone-fruit, "drupe, fruit with a hard stone or nut at the center," is from 1520s. Stone's throw for "a short distance" is attested from 1580s; stone's cast in the same sense is from late 13c., also "a short time." Stone age, "period of human cultural development marked by tools or weapons made of stone," is from 1864; adjectival extended sense of "outmoded, unsophisticated" is by 1927.

To kill two birds with one stone "accomplish two purposes with one act" is attested by 1650s. To leave no stone unturned "use every possible expedient" is from 1540s. To have a heart of stone figuratively is by late 14c.

stone (adj.)

"made of stone," Old English; see stone (n.). Old English also had stænan, Middle English stonen, which seems to have faded in 15c.

As an intensifying adjective it is recorded from 1935, first in African-American vernacular, probably from earlier use in phrases such as stone blind (late 14c., literally "blind as a stone"), stone-dead ("lifeless," c. 1300, ston-ded), stone deaf, stone-cold (1590s), etc. Stone cold sober dates from 1937.

stone (v.)

c. 1200, "throw stones at, pelt with stones," from stone (n.). From c. 1600 as "to fit with stones;" 1630s as "to free from stones" (of fruit, etc.). Related: Stoned; stoning.

stoned (adj.)

1510s, "having or containing stones," past-participle adjective from stone (v.). From 1728 as "deprived of stones." Slang meaning "drunk; intoxicated with narcotics" is from 1930s.

stonefly (n.)

type of insect, also stone-fly, mid-15c., from stone (n.) + fly (n.). So called because the larval forms abound under stones in streams.

Stonehenge (n.)

"celebrated stone circle on Salisbury Plain" [OED], early 12c., Stanenges, literally "stone gallows," perhaps so called from fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts; from stone (n.) + second element related to hang (v.).

Some antiquarians suggest the notion may be of "supported in the air, that which hangs in the air" (compare henge-clif for Latin præruptum), in reference to the lintel stones, but the order of the elements and the inflection is against this.

The thing itself is from a time immemorial to the earliest Germanic writings. An ancient common name for it was the Giant's Dance. In Middle English a stonehenge also was a device for clamping stones together.

stoneless (adj.)

mid-15c., stoneles, of cherries, "without a hard seed at the center," from stone (n.) + -less.

stonemason (n.)

"one who dresses stones for building," 1733, from stone (n.) + mason. Perhaps the longer name was to distinguish from the Freemasons, who came to attention in 18c. Another name for the profession was hard-hewer (15c.). Stone-cutter is from 1530s, and Old English had stanwyrhta "stone-wright."

stoner (n.)

early 15c., stonere, "one who throws stones;" mid-15c. as "one with expert knowledge of (precious) stones;" agent noun from stone (v.). The modern slang sense of "stuporous person" is by mid-1960s (compare stoned). Obsolete alternative stonard is by c. 1500 as "one who throws stones" (glossing Latin lapidator).

stonewall (v.)

"block persistently, obstruct," by 1889 in sports; by 1914 in a political sense ("obstruct by long speeches, delayed replies, etc."), from metaphoric use of stonewall (n.) for "act of obstruction" (1876). Related: Stonewalled; stonewalling (defined in Century Dictionary as "parliamentary obstruction by talking against time, raising technical objections, etc.," and identified there as originally Australian).

stonewall (n.)

also stone wall, Middle English ston-wal "wall or rampart made of stones or masonry," from Old English stanwalle; see stone (n.) + wall (n.). As nickname of Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson (1824-1863), bestowed 1861 on the occasion of the First Battle of Bull Run, supposedly by Gen. Bernard Bee, urging his brigade to rally around Jackson, who was "standing like a stone wall." Bee was killed in the fight; the account of the nickname appeared in Southern newspapers within four days of the battle.

stoneware (n.)

"potters' ware made from highly siliceous clay or clay and flint," 1680s, from stone (n.) + ware (n.).

stonework (n.)

"work consisting of stone, masonry," Middle English stonwerk, from Old English stanweorc; see stone (n.) + work (n.).

stony (adj.)

also stoney, Middle English stoni, "made of or consisting of stone," figuratively, "unfeeling, insensitive," from Old English stænig; see stone (n.) + -y (2). Similar formation in Old High German steinag, German Steinig, Swedish stenig. Related: Stonily; stoniness. Stonish "hard, pitiless" is attested from early 15c. In late 19c., a stoney (n.) was a colored marble made of stone.

stood

past tense and past participle of stand (v.).

stooge (n.)

1913, "stage assistant, actor who assists a comedian," a word of uncertain origin, perhaps an alteration of student (with the mispronunciation STOO-jent) in sense of "apprentice."

The meaning "lackey, person used for another's purpose" is recorded by 1937. The Three Stooges film slapstick act debuted on screen in 1930, originally as "Ted Healy and His Stooges."

stool (n.)

Middle English stōl, from Old English stol "seat for one person," from Proto-Germanic *stōla- (source also of Old Frisian stol, Old Norse stoll, Old High German stuol, German Stuhl "seat," Gothic stols "high seat, throne"), from PIE *sta-lo-, locative of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm" (source also of Lithuanian pa-stolas "stand," Old Church Slavonic stolu "stool").

The English word was originally used of thrones (as in cynestol "royal seat, throne") and in early Middle English still of episcopal seats and sees and judicial benches. Its decline in sense began with adoption of chair (n.) from French. After 14c. this relegated stool to small seats without arms or backs (attested also from late Old English), sometimes a piece of wood mounted on three legs, or to "privy" (early 15c.) and thence to "bowel movement" (1530s).

stool-ball (n.)

outdoor game similar to cricket, in 16c. and 17c. generally played by women alone, mid-15c., from stool (n.) + ball (n.1). It was played with a "stool" — boards on sticks — in place of wickets; "perhaps it was originally an ordinary stool" [OED]. First mentioned (and forbidden) with handball, football, "tenessyng," etc.

stool pigeon (n.)

"police informer," 1859, American English; earlier "one who betrays the unwary (or is used to betray them)," 1821, earlier "a decoy bird" (1812), from a stool as the movable pole or perch to which a pigeon was fastened to lure wild birds.

Perhaps a stool was the original device, but compare stall "decoy bird" (c. 1500), especially "a pigeon used to entice a hawk into the net" (see stall (n.2)). There may be a convergence. Also see pigeon. and compare stool-ball.

stoop (v.)

Middle English stoupen, "bend forward and downward," especially of persons "lower the body by bending forward," from Old English stupian "to bow, bend," from Proto-Germanic *stupojanan (source also of Middle Dutch stupen "to bow, bend," Norwegian stupa "fall, drop"), perhaps from PIE *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat" (see steep (adj.)), but there are objections.

Of posture or the shoulders, "have a habitual forward or downward slope from the upright line of the body," c. 1300. The figurative sense of "condescend," especially expressing a lowering of the moral self, is from 1570s. The literal sense of "swoop" is recorded by 1570s in falconry. Related: Stooped; stooping.

Stoop-shouldered "having a habitual slope in the shoulders and back" is attested from 1773.

stoop (n.1)

"raised open platform before the entrance of a house, approached by steps" 1755, American and Canadian, from Dutch stoep "flight of steps, doorstep, threshold," from Middle Dutch, from Proto-Germanic *stap- "step" (see step (v.)).

Properly neither a veranda nor a porch. Also in South African English as stoep (1797), hence stoep-sitter "habitually idle person, one who sits all day on his own stoep."

stoop (n.2)

c. 1300, "act of stooping or bending down," from stoop (v.). As "a descent from superiority or dignity," by 1630s.

stop (v.)

Middle English stoppen, "obstruct (a passage) with a physical barrier; close up by filling, stuffing, or plugging," from Old English -stoppian (in forstoppian "to stop up, stifle"), a general West Germanic word, cognate with Old Saxon stuppon, West Frisian stopje, Middle Low German stoppen, Old High German stopfon, German stopfen "to plug, stop up," Old Low Frankish (be)stuppon "to stop (the ears)." Related: Stopped; stopping.

These words are said by many sources to be a Germanic borrowing of Vulgar Latin *stuppare "to stop or stuff with tow or oakum" (source of Italian stoppare, French étouper "to stop with tow"), from Latin stuppa "coarse part of flax, tow." In support of this theory, it is said that plugs made of tow were used from ancient times in the Rhine valley. Century Dictionary says this "suits phonetically," but "is on grounds of meaning somewhat doubtful." Barnhart, for one, proposes the whole Germanic group might be native, from a native base *stoppon.

Senses having to do with "bring or come to a halt; discontinue or cause to cease from a course or action" developed in 15c. in English (but have been adopted in other languages). They extend from the notion of "prevent a flow by blocking a hole," and in some cases the sense might have been influenced by Latin stupere "be stunned, be stupefied."

The transitive sense of "hinder from progress or procedure, put a stop to" (a thief, a clock, conception) is by late 14c., as is that of "hold (someone or something) back from a specified course or purpose." By c. 1400 stop could mean "shut (someone in something), confine, shut away from." By 1400 stop also was used as "prevent the continuance of" and by 1520s intransitively as "cease from forward motion, come to a stand."

The transitive meaning "leave off, desist" is by 1520s; the intransitive meaning "check oneself" is 1680s. Of travelers, "make a halt or stay, tarry," by 1711. Of immaterial things, "discontinue, cease, come to an end," by 1733. In reference to the ears "to plug or cover," early 14c.

stop (n.)

late 14c., "a plug;" mid-15c., "a cessation" from motion or action, from stop (v.). Of mechanisms of musical instruments for stopping a hole and changing the tone, from c. 1500. Especially in reference to organs, "a set of pipes producing the same sound," presumably in reference to the knob activating them. Opening one swells the sound, hence figurative phrase pull out the stops "make every possible effort" (1909).

By 1560s as "a pause in speaking;" by 1590 as "mark to indicate a pause or stop in reading, a punctuation mark." The end of a sentence was a full stop, hence in punctuation "period," which, shortened to stop, was regularly printed in telegram messages at the end of sentences by 1936.

By 1500 as a kind of thrust in fencing. From 1660s in phonetics, "alphabetic sound involving complete closure of the mouth-organs." By 1831 in photography. The meaning "a stopping place" is from 1889.

Stop-sign, indicating traffic should stop, is by 1918. To put a stop to some activity "cause to cease, temporarily or permanently" is from 1670s (earlier give a stop to, 1580s).

stop-and-go (adj.)

"alternately stopping and going," 1926, originally a reference to traffic signals; see stop (v.), go (v.). Stop-go in the same sense is by 1918. Stop-and-start "alternately stopping and starting" is by 1950.

stop-cock (n.)

"faucet with a value operated by a handle," 1580s; see stop (v.) + cock (n.2).

stope (n.)

a type of step-like excavation in mining, etc., 1747, from Low German stope, Middle Dutch stoepe "a step," and cognate with step (n.1); also see stoop (n.1).

As a verb from 1778, "remove the contents of a vein," literally "to cut in stopes." Also an adjective. Related: Stoped; stoping.

stopgap (n.)

also stop-gap, "that which fills a hiatus, an expedient in an emergency," 1680s, from stop (v.) + gap (n.); the notion probably being of something that plugs a leak, but it may be in part from gap (n.) in a specific military sense "opening or breach in defenses by which attack may be made" (1540s). Also as an adjective from 1680s, "filling a gap or pause."

stopless (adj.)

"not to be stopped or checked," 1650s (Davenant), from stop (n.) + -less.

stop-light (n.)

also stoplight, by 1922 as a signal on an automobile indicating braking (stop-light signal in this sense is by 1921), from stop (n.) + light (n.). As a device beside a road indicating traffic must stop, by 1927.

stop-motion (adj.)

1851, of power looms and knitting machines, "designed to stop suddenly (in the event of a jam, etc.) to prevent damage to the material or the machine," from stop (v.) + motion (n.). Cinematographic use is by 1912.

stop-over (n.)

also stopover, 1881, from the verbal phrase, from stop (v.) + over (adv.).

stoppable (adj.)

"that can be stopped," 1934, probably a back-formation from unstoppable.

stoppage (n.)

mid-15c., "deduction from payment," from stop (v.) + -age. From late 15c. as "impediment, hindrance, obstruction;" 1650s as "act of stopping."

stopper (n.)

1530s, "one who or that which brings to a stop or stand," agent noun from stop (v.). It is attested by 1590s as "something that obstructs" a hole or passage; the specific sense of "glass plug for a bottle neck" is by 1660s. As a verb from 1760s, "close or secure with a stopper." Related: Stoppered.

The earlier noun seems to have been stoppel "stopper, plug" (late 14c., perhaps early 13c. if it is in the surname Stoppelkin preserved in old records), which is perhaps a shortening of Old French estopaille, influenced by the English verb or interpreted as stop + instrumental suffix -el (1) as in treadle, ladle, spindle, or it might in fact be that.

stop-watch (n.)

also stopwatch, "watch which records fractions of a second and which can be stopped in an instant," used in timing races, etc., 1737, from stop (v.) + watch (n.).

storage (n.)

1610s, "space for storing," from store (v.) + -age. From 1775 as "price charged for keeping goods in a storehouse." By 1828 in American English as "act of storing." Transferred to computer data and instructions by 1945. Storage unit as a household piece is attested from 1951.

store (n.)

c. 1300, "supplies or provisions for a household, camp, etc.," from store (v.) or else from Old French estore "provisions; a fleet, navy, army," from estorer or from Medieval Latin staurum, instaurum "store." General sense of "sufficient supply" is attested from late 15c. The meaning "place where goods are kept for sale" is recorded by 1721 in American English, from the sense "place where supplies and provisions are kept" (1660s). British English prefers shop (n.).

Stores "articles and equipment for an army or warship" is from 1630s. In store "laid up for future use" (also of events, etc.) is recorded from c. 1300.

store (v.)

mid-13c., storen, "to supply or stock" (a town, castle, etc.) with supplies, including food, from Old French estorer "provide, furnish; erect, construct, build; restore, repair; furnish, equip, provision," from Latin instaurare "to set up, establish; renew, restore," in Medieval Latin also "to provide, store," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + -staurare (from PIE *stau-ro-, suffixed extended form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm").

Compare restore. In Middle English it also could mean "to build; to restore." The meaning "to keep in store for future use" (1550s) probably is a back-formation from store (n.). Related: Stored; storing.

store-bought (adj.)

1912, American-English colloquial, "purchased in a store," as contrasted with home-made; from store (n.) + bought. The earlier form was store-boughten (1872).

storefront (n.)

"side of a shop facing the street," 1853, from store (n.) + front (n.). As an adjective by 1919, often in reference to churches.

storehouse (n.)

"building used for storage," mid-14c., from store (n.) + house (n.) "building." Figurative use is by 1570s.

storekeeper (n.)

also store-keeper, 1610s, "military officer who has charge of stores," from store (n.) + keeper. As "shopkeeper," by 1741.

store-room (n.)

"room set aside for stores or supplies," 1746, from store + room (n.).

storied (adj.1)

late 15c., of books, painted walls, etc., "ornamented with scenes from history, depicting stories," past-participle adjective from story (v.) "record, write down" (mid-15c.) or formed directly from story (n.1), and compare story (n.2).

The meaning "celebrated in history, associated with tales or legend" is from 1725. The late Victorians had storiation (1884) for "elaborate ornamental illustrative designs" on the title pages of books, etc., also storiated (adj.).

story (n.2)

"stage or subdivision of the height of a house, habitable space between a floor and a ceiling of a building," c. 1400, storie, also used of the external walls, from Anglo-Latin historia "floor of a building" (c. 1200), also "picture," from Latin historia (see history).

"Perhaps so called because the front of buildings in the Middle Ages often were decorated with rows of painted windows" [Barnhart]. English story (n.1) also had the sense of "a historical picture, a scene from history or legend in painting, sculpture, needlework, etc." by c. 1300, after Medieval Latin, and compare attic (n.).

story (n.1)

"connected account or narration, oral or written," c. 1200, originally "narrative of important events or celebrated persons of the past, true or presumed to be; history," from Anglo-French storie, estorie, Old French estoire "story, chronicle, history," and directly from Late Latin storia, shortened from Latin historia "history, account, tale, story" (see history).

The non-historical sense of "account of some happening or events alleged to have happened" is by late 14c., but the word was not differentiated from history until 1500s and was used at first also in most of the senses of history. In Middle English a storier was a historian (early 14c. as a surname), storial (adj.) was "historically true, dealing with history," and a book of story was a history book. For the sense evolution compare Gaelic seanachas "history, antiquity," also "story, tale, narration," from sean "old, ancient" + cuis "a matter, affair, circumstance."

The literary sense of "tale in more or less imaginative style, narrative of fictitious events meant to entertain" is from c. 1500. The sense of "plot or intrigue of a novel or drama" is by 1715; story-line "plot-line of a novel or drama" is attested by 1941.

The meaning "humorous anecdote, incident related for interest or entertainment" is by early 15c. As "facts or events of a given case considered in sequence," c. 1600. The meaning "report or descriptive article in a newspaper" is by 1892. As a euphemism for "a lie, a falsehood" it dates from 1690s.

Whole story "full account of the matter" is from 1660s. Another story "different matter requiring different treatment" is attested by 1818. Story of my life "sad truth" first recorded 1938, from a typical title of an autobiography. In late 14c. naked story was "unvarnished account."

storied (adj.2)

"having stories or floors" of a certain type or number, 1620s, from story (n.2).

stork (n.)

tall, stately wading bird, Middle English stork, from Old English storc "stork," from Proto-Germanic *sturkaz (source also of Old Norse storkr, Swedish and Danish stork, Middle Dutch storc, Old High German storah, German Storch "stork"). This is believed to be from PIE root *ster- (1) "stiff," perhaps with reference to the bird's stiff or rigid posture. But some compare Greek torgos "vulture," which also could form names of other birds (torgos hygrophoitos "a swan").

Old Church Slavonic struku, Russian sterkhu, Lithuanian starkus, Hungarian eszterag, Albanian sterkjok "stork" are said to be Germanic loan-words.

Traditionally a symbol of fidelity and amiability but also the subject of odd legends. The children's fable that babies are brought by storks (told by adults unready to go into details) is in English by 1854, from German and Dutch nursery stories. It is probably ultimately from the notion that storks nesting on one's roof meant good luck, often in the form of family happiness. It is a marsh bird naturally, the nesting on rooftops seems to be an adaptation to humans.

storm (v.)

of the wind, "to rage, be violent, blow with great force," c. 1400, stormen, from storm (n.) or else from Old English had styrman, which is cognate with Dutch stormen, Old High German sturman, German stürmen, Danish storme.

The military sense of "attack and attempt to take (a place) by scaling walls and forcing gates" is by 1640s. The sense of "move with violence, rush angrily" is by 1837, said to be from the military sense. Related: Stormed; storming. Italian stormire "make a noise" is from Germanic.

storm (n.)

Old English storm "tempest, violent disturbance of the atmosphere," often accompanied by high winds, rain, etc.; also "onrush, attack; tumult; disturbance," from Proto-Germanic *sturmaz "storm" (source also of Old Norse stormr, Old Saxon, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Dutch storm, Old High German sturm, German Sturm).

This is considered to be from PIE *stur-mo-, from root *(s)twer- (1) "to turn, whirl." Old French estour "onset, tumult," Italian stormo "a fight" are Germanic loan-words. Also compare stour (n.).

The figurative senses begin in late Old English: "disturbance, convulsion" in civil, political, social, or domestic life. Also in late Old English as "tumultuous flight or descent of hurled objects." The figurative meaning "tumultuous onrush" (of tears, indignation, etc.) is from c. 1600.

To take (something) by storm (1680s) is from the military sense (for which see storm (v.)). The U.S. colloquial adverbial phrase _______ up a storm, meaning to do the indicated action with violent or vehement energy, is from 1946.

Storm-wind "wind of a storm" is from 1798. Storm-door "outer or additional door to protect from inclement weather" is recorded by 1872; storm-window in a similar sense is attested from 1824. Storm-cellar, for protection in violent storms, is byt 1929, American English. Storm-water "water from a storm" is from 1847; the coastal storm-surge is attested from 1872.

Storm-tossed (adj.) is from 1610s. Storm-bird for the petrel is by 1752. Storm-cloud, one that brings or threatens a storm, is by 1822.

stormy (adj.)

early 14c., stormi, "characterized by violent weather," from late Old English storemig (12c.), from storm (n.) + -y (2). Figurative use by mid-14c., of persons or events, "turbulent, agitated, characterized by violent disturbance or strife." Related: Stormily; storminess. Middle English also had stormish, of persons, "fickle, liable to change, inconstant" (mid-15c.).

storm-trooper (n.)

"member of the Nazi Sturmabteilung," 1933, from storm (v.) + trooper (also see Sturmabteilung). Storm-troops (1917) translates German sturmtruppen, introduced by the German military in World War I.

story-board (n.)

also storyboard, 1941, from story (n.1) + board (n.1).

story-book (n.)

"book containing one or more stories or tales," often for children, 1711, from story (n.1) + book (n.). As an adjective from 1844.

story-telling (n.)

also storytelling, 1709, "act or art of relating stories," from story (n.1) + present participle of tell (v.). Related: Story-teller "one who tells stories, true or fictional, orally or in writing" (1709). By 1748 as "a liar, teller of falsehoods."

stound (n.)

"moment, relatively short length of time" (archaic), Middle English stounde, from Old English stund "point of time, time, hour," from Proto-Germanic *stundo- (source also of Old Saxon stonda, Old Frisian stunde, Dutch stondi, German Stunde "hour"), which is said to be from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm," but Boutkan finds for it no clear IE etymology.

It was common in Middle English expressions such as in a stound "soon, shortly," a little stound "a little while." Stoundmeal meant "at times, at intervals" (Old English stundmælum) and was in use as late as Caxton.

stound (v.)

"to stun," as with strokes or blows, a shortening of astound (q.v.).

stoup (n.)

late 14c., stoupe, "jug," especially one made of leather; also a measure for liquid, of varying amount, from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse staup "cup," from Proto-Germanic *staupo- (source also of Middle Low German stop, Middle Dutch stoop "a cup, vessel," Dutch stoop, Old High German stouf, German Stauf, Old English steap; compare steep (v.)).

stour (n.)

c. 1300, stoure, "tumult, armed conflict, struggle with adversity or pain," from Anglo-French estur, Old French estour "a tumult, conflict, assault, shock, battle," a Germanic word, from Proto-Germanic *sturmaz "storm" (source also of Old High German sturm "storm; battle;" see storm (n.)). It was revived by Spenser and his imitators in various senses; also surviving as a Scottish and Northern English word meaning "a (driving) storm" or "uproar, commotion." Italian stormo also is from Germanic.

stout (n.)

1670s, "strong beer or ale," from stout (adj.). Later especially, and now usually, "porter of extra strength" (by 1762).

stout (adj.)

c. 1300, stoute, "valiant, brave," also "proud, haughty; skilled in battle; fierce, cruel," senses now obsolete, from Old French estout "brave, fierce, proud," earlier estolt "strong," from a Germanic source from West Germanic *stult- "proud, stately, strutting" (source also of Middle Low German stolt "stately, proud," German stolz "proud, haughty, arrogant, stately"). This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place.

The meaning "strong in body, powerfully built," in reference to a person or animal, is attested from c. 1300 and developed as a major sense by 15c., but it largely has been displaced by the (often euphemistic) meaning "thick-bodied, fat and large, bulky in figure," which is recorded by 1804. Of things, "strongly built, solid," from c. 1400.

The oldest sense is preserved in figurative phrase stout-hearted "having a brave heart, of undaunted courage" (1550s). The Germanic group also seems to have had a sense development toward "stupid," as in Middle Low German stolz, Dutch stout, which also could mean "stupid," perhaps by influence of Italian stolto "silly," from Latin stultus. Related: Stoutly; stoutness.

stove (n.)

mid-15c., "heated room, bath-room," from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stove, both meaning "heated room," which was the original sense in English; a general West Germanic word (Old English stofa "bath-room," which seems not to have survived, Old High German stuba, German Stube "sitting room").

Of uncertain relationship to similar words in Romance languages (Italian stufa, French étuve "sweating-room;" see stew (v.)). One theory traces them all to Vulgar Latin *extufare "take a steam bath."

The meaning "device for warming a room or cooking" is modern, recorded from 1610s; especially a closed or partly closed vessel in which heat radiates from a burning fuel.

stovepipe (n.)

also stove-pipe, 1690s, "hothouse pipe," from stove (n.) + pipe (n.). As a metal pipe for conducting smoke, gases, etc. from a stove to a chimney, by 1796.

Stove-pipe hat, as a type of hat for men, is by 1849, American English, so called for being tall and cylindrical like a stove-pipe; British English seems to have preferred chimney-pot hat. for it (1845).

stow (v.)

c. 1300, stouen, "to put, place (somewhere), put in a (suitable or convenient) place or position," verbal use of Old English noun stow "a place, spot, site, locality" (common in place names), from Proto-Germanic *stowo- (source also of Old Frisian sto "place," Middle Low German, Middle Dutch stouwen, Dutch stuwen "to stow," Old High German stouwen "to stop, check," German stauen "to stow, pack; bring to a halt, hem in"). This is considered to be from PIE *stau- "stout, standing, strong," extended form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm" (source also of Old Church Slavonic stavljo "to place," Lithuanian stoviu, stovėti "to stand").

It is attested by early 14c. as "lodge, provide quarters for (a person or animal;" the nautical sense of "put away to be stored, pack" (gear, in a ship) is by late 14c., reinforced later by Dutch stouwen "to cram, pack up close." Related: Stowed; stowing.

stowage (n.)

late 14c., "act or operation of stowing," a hybrid from stow (v.) + -age. Compare Anglo-Latin stowagium. As "place in which things are stowed," 1540s.