Stad"dle (?), n. [AS. sta[eth]ol, sra[eth]ul, a foundation, firm seat; akin to E. stand. 163. See Stand, v. i.] [Formerly written stadle.]
1.
Anything which serves for support; a staff; a prop; a crutch; a cane.
His weak steps governing
And aged limbs on cypress stadle stout.
Spenser.
2.
The frame of a stack of hay or grain.
[Eng.]
3.
A row of dried or drying hay, etc.
[Eng.]
4.
A small tree of any kind, especially a forest tree.
⇒ In America, trees are called staddles from the time that they are three or four years old till they are six or eight inches in diameter, or more. This is also the sense in which the word is used by Bacon and Tusser.
© Webster 1913.
Stad"dle, v. t.
1.
To leave the staddles, or saplings, of, as a wood when it is cut.
[R.]
Tusser.
2.
To form into staddles, as hay.
[Eng.]
© Webster 1913.