4 entries under this word
(66), v. t. [Formerly written staunch.] [imp. & p. p. STANCHED (stăncht); p. pr. & vb. n. STANCHING.] [O. Fr. estancher, estanchier, estancer, N. Fr. étancher, to stop a liquid from flowing, Pr., Sp., & Pg. estancar, id., It. stancare, to weary, L. Lat. stancare, stagnare, to stanch, from Lat. stagnare, to be or make stagnant. See STAGNATE.]
To stop, as blood; to cease to flow. Immediately the issue of her blood stanched. Luke viii. 44.
a. [compar. STANCHER; superl. STANCHEST.] [From stanch, v. t., and hence literally signifying stopped or stayed; Pr. estanc, stable, solid, Sp. estanco, Pg. estanque, stopped, tight, not leaky—of a ship; but O. Fr. estanc, and It. stanco, tired, slow.] [Written also staunch] 1. Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship. One of the closets is parqueted with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty. Evelyn. 2. Firm in principle; constant and zealous; hearty; steady; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch republican; a stanch friend or adherent. In politics I hear you're stanch. Prior. 3. Close; secret; private. [Obs.] This is to be kept stanch. Locke. Stanch hound, one that follows the scent closely without error or remissness.
n. That which stanches, or extinguishes. [Obs.]