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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Stake

Stāke, n.

noun

n. [A-S. staca, from the root of stick; O. Fries. & L. Ger. stake, D. staak; Icel. staki, Sw. stake, Dan. stage. Cf. ESTACADE.] 1. A stick, usually of wood, pointed at one end so as easily to be pushed into the ground as a support or stay; as, a stake to support vines, to support fences, hedges, and the like. A sharpened stake strong Dryas found. Dryden.

  1. Especially, the piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed while he was burning; hence, martyrdom, especially by fire.
  2. That which is laid down as a wager; a pledge.
  3. A small anvil to straighten cold work, or to cut and punch upon. Moxon.
  4. (Ship-building.) One in the regular ranges of planks on the bottom and sides of the ship, reaching from the stem to the stern. Weale.

At stake, in danger; hazarded; pledged. “I see my reputation is at stake.” Shak. — Stake-and-rice, a wattled fence, that is, a fence made by driving stakes into the ground, and interlacing them with twigs or brushwood. [Eng.] Halliwell.

Stāke, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. STAKED (stākt); p. pr. & vb. n. STAKING.]

  1. To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake vines or plants.
  2. To mark the limits by stakes; — with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road, or the ground for a canal.
  3. To put at hazard upon the issue of competition, or upon a future contingency; to wager; to pledge.

I'll stake you lamb that near the fountain plays. Pope.

  1. To point or sharpen stakes. [Obs.]
  2. To pierce with a stake. [Rare.] Spectator.