stalen.[OE. stale, stele, AS. stl, stel; akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem, Gr. steleo`n a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.] The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake.()But seeing the arrow's stale without, and that the head did go
No further than it might be seen. (Chapman.)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, stale bread.()3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out; decayed.(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.()v. t. 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.)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.)n.[See Stale, a. & v. i.]1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use.()2. A prostitute.(Shak.)3. Urine, esp. that of beasts.(Shak.)n.[Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market, F. 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.()Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay. (Spenser.)2. A stalking-horse.(B. Jonson.)3. (Chess) A stalemate.(Bacon.)4. A laughingstock; a dupe.(Shak.)