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¹stay

noun \ˈstā\

Definition of STAY

: a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast

: ¹guy

Origin of STAY

Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard

Rhymes with STAY

a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea

²stay

verb

Definition of STAY

transitive verb

: to secure upright with or as if with stays

: to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays

intransitive verb

: to go about : tack

First Known Use of STAY

1627

³stay

verb

stayed \ˈstād\ also staid \ˈstād\ stay·ing

Definition of STAY

intransitive verb

: to stop going forward : pause

: to stop doing something : cease

: to continue in a place or condition : remain <stayed up all night> <went for a short vacation but stayed on for weeks> <stay put till I come back>

: to stand firm

: to take up residence : lodge

: to keep even in a contest or rivalry <stay with the leaders>

: to call a poker bet without raising

obsolete : to be in waiting or attendance

transitive verb

: to wait for : await

: to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end —usually used in the phrase stay the course

: to remain during <stayed the whole time>

a : to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle : halt

b : to check the course of (as a disease)

c : allay, pacify <stayed tempers>

d : to quiet the hunger of temporarily

Origin of STAY

Middle English, from Anglo-French estei-, estai-, stem of ester to stand, stay, from Latin stare — more at stand

First Known Use: 15th century

Synonym Discussion of STAY

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time <deferred buying a car until spring>. postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time <the game is postponed until Saturday>. suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied <business will be suspended while repairs are under way>. stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority <the governor stayed the execution>.

⁴stay

noun

Definition of STAY

a : the action of halting : the state of being stopped

b : a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order

obsolete : self-control, moderation

: a residence or sojourn in a place

: capacity for endurance

First Known Use of STAY

1536

⁵stay

noun

Definition of STAY

: one that serves as a prop : support

: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)

: a corset stiffened with bones —usually used in plural

Origin of STAY

Middle English, from Middle French estaie, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stake pole, Middle Low German stak post, stake pole — more at stake

First Known Use: 14th century