Stale (?), n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. stael, 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Stale, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market, F. 'etal 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.
© Webster 1913.