Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

by Various

Defn: A tall tree (Simaruba amara) growing in tropical America. It is one of the trees which yields quassia.

STAVING
Stav"ing, n.

Defn: A cassing or lining of staves; especially, one encircling a water wheel.

STAW
Staw, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dan. staae to stand, Sw. stå. *163.]

Defn: To be fixed or set; to stay. [Prov. Eng.]

STAY Stay, n. Etym: [AS. stæg, akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., & Dan. stag; cf. OF. estai, F. étai, of Teutonic origin.] (Naut.)

Defn: A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship. In stays, or Hove in stays (Naut.), in the act or situation of staying, or going about from one tack to another. R. H. Dana, Jr. — Stay holes (Naut.), openings in the edge of a staysail through which the hanks pass which join it to the stay. — Stay tackle (Naut.), a tackle attached to a stay and used for hoisting or lowering heavy articles over the side. — To miss stays (Naut.), to fail in the attempt to go about. Totten. — Triatic stay (Naut.), a rope secured at the ends to the heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.

STAY Stay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stayed or Staid (; p. pr. & vb. n. Staying.] Etym: [OF. estayer, F. étayer to prop, fr. OF. estai, F. étai, a prop, probably fr. OD. stade, staeye, a prop, akin to E. stead; or cf. stay a rope to support a mast. Cf. Staid, a., Stay, v. i.]

1. To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support. Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. Ex. xvii. 12. Sallows and reeds . . . for vineyards useful found To stay thy vines. Dryden.

2. To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time. He has devoured a whole loaf of bread and butter, and it has not staid his stomach for a minute. Sir W. Scott.