Part 724

Staith (?), n. [AS. stæ&?; a bank, shore, from the root of E. stead.] A landing place; an elevated staging upon a wharf for discharging coal, etc., as from railway cars, into vessels.

Staith"man (?), n. A man employed in weighing and shipping at a staith. [Eng.]

Stake (?), n. [AS. staca, from the root of E. stick; akin to OFries. & LG. stake, D. staak, Sw. stake, Dan. stage. See Stick, v. t., and cf. Estacade, Stockade.] 1. A piece of wood, usually long and slender, pointed at one end so as to be easily driven into the ground as a support or stay; as, a stake to support vines, fences, hedges, etc.

A sharpened stake strong Dryas found.

Dryden.

2. A stick inserted upright in a lop, eye, or mortise, at the side or end of a cart, a flat car, or the like, to prevent goods from falling off.

3. The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be burned; hence, martyrdom by fire.

4. A small anvil usually furnished with a tang to enter a hole in a bench top, -- used by tinsmiths, blacksmiths, etc., for light work, punching upon, etc.

5. That which is laid down as a wager; that which is staked or hazarded; a pledge.

At stake, in danger; hazarded; pledged. "I see my reputation is at stake." Shak.

Stake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Staking.] 1. To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake vines or plants.

2. To mark the limits of by stakes; -- with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road.

3. To put at hazard upon the issue of competition, or upon a future contingency; to wager; to pledge.

I'll stake yon lamb, that near the fountain plays.

Pope.

4. To pierce or wound with a stake. Spectator.

Stake"-driv`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) The common American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus); -- so called because one of its notes resembles the sound made in driving a stake into the mud. Called also meadow hen, and Indian hen.

Stake"head` (?), n. (Rope making) A horizontal bar on a stake, used for supporting the yarns which are kept apart by pins in the bar.

Stake"hold`er (?), n. The holder of a stake; one with whom the bets are deposited when a wager is laid.

Stak*tom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; falling by drops + -meter.] A drop measurer; a glass tube tapering to a small orifice at the point, and having a bulb in the middle, used for finding the number of drops in equal quantities of different liquids. See Pipette. Sir D. Brewster.

Stal (?), obs. imp. of Steal. Stole.

{ Sta*lac"tic (?), Sta*lac"tic*al (?) }, a. (Geol.) Stalactitic.

Sta*lac"ti*form (?), a. Like a stalactite; resembling a stalactite.

Sta*lac"tite (?), n.; pl. Stalactites (#). [Gr. &?; oozing out in drops, dropping, fr. &?; to drop: cf. F. stalactite.] (Geol.) (a) A pendent cone or cylinder of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle in form and mode of attachment. Stalactites are found depending from the roof or sides of caverns, and are produced by deposition from waters which have percolated through, and partially dissolved, the overlying limestone rocks. (b) In an extended sense, any mineral or rock of similar form and origin; as, a stalactite of lava.

||Stal`ac*ti"tes (?), n. [NL.] A stalactite. [Obs.] Woodward.

{ Stal`ac*tit"ic (?), Stal`ac*tit"ic*al (?) }, a. [Cf. F. stalactitique.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to a stalactite; having the form or characters of a stalactite; stalactic.

Stal`ac*tit"i*form (?), a. Having the form of a stalactite; stalactiform.

Sta*lag"mite (?), n. [Gr. &?; that which drops, a drop, fr. &?; to drop; cf. F. stalagmite.] (Geol.) A deposit more or less resembling an inverted stalactite, formed by calcareous water dropping on the floors of caverns; hence, a similar deposit of other material.