Defn: 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
Stale, a. Etym: [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
Stale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staled; p. pr. & vb. n. Staling.]
Defn: 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 Stale, v. i. Etym: [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw. stalla, and E. stall a stable. Stall, n., and cf. Stale, a.]
Defn: To make water; to discharge urine; — said especially of horses and cattle. Hudibras.