Definitions for: Stale


[adj] showing deterioration from age; "stale bread"
[adj] no longer new; uninteresting; "cold (or stale) news"
[adj] lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new; "moth-eaten theories about race"
[v] urinate, of cattle and horses



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Synonyms: addled, bad, cold, day-old, flyblown, hard, limp, maggoty, moldy, moth-eaten, mouldy, musty, rancid, spoiled, spoilt, wilted

Antonyms: fresh

See Also: make, make water, micturate, old, pass water, pee, pee-pee, piddle, piss, puddle, relieve oneself, spend a penny, take a leak, unoriginal, urinate, wee, wee-wee

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animlas that start with d
animlas that start with c