Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Stale?

\Stale\, n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. st[ae]l, stel; akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem, Gr. ? a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.] The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake. [Written also {steal}, {stele}, etc.] But seeling the arrow's stale without, and that the head did go No further than it might be seen. --Chapman.
\Stale\, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, n.; probably from Low German or Scandinavian. Cf. {Stale}, v. i.] 1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer. 2. Not new; not freshly made; as, stele bread. 3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out; decayed. ``A stale virgin.'' --Spectator. 4. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty and power of pleasing; trite; common. --Swift. Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing. --Grew. How weary, stale flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! --Shak. {Stale affidavit} (Law), an affidavit held above a year. --Craig. {Stale demand} (Law), a claim or demand which has not been pressed or demanded for a long time.
\Stale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Staled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Staling}.] To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or use of; to wear out. Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. --Shak.
\Stale\, v. i. [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw. stalla, and E. stall a stable. ? 163. See {Stall}, n., and cf. {Stale}, a.] To make water; to discharge urine; -- said especially of horses and cattle. --Hudibras.
\Stale\, n. [See {Stale}, a. & v. i.] 1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use. [Obs.] 2. A prostitute. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. Urine, esp. that of beasts. ``Stale of horses.'' --Shak.
\Stale\, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market, F. ['e]tal a butcher's stall, OHG. stal station, place, stable, G. stall (see {Stall}, n.); or from OE. stale theft, AS. stalu (see {Steal}, v. t.)] 1. Something set, or offered to view, as an allurement to draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool pigeon. [Obs.] Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay. --Spenser. 2. A stalking-horse. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. 3. (Chess) A stalemate. [Obs.] --Bacon. 4. A laughingstock; a dupe. [Obs.] --Shak.