Obs. Also 4–5 stable. [a. AF. establie (latinized stabilia, stabilea, stablea: see G. J. Turner, Sel. Pleas of Forest, Gloss.), f. establir to station, ESTABLISH. Cf. med.L. stabilitiones venationum (Domesday Book).]
1. Hunting. A besetting of a wood with men, hounds in leash, nets, etc., for the purpose of taking deer, etc.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1153. Bot heterly þay were Restayed with þe stablye, þat stoutly ascryed.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxv. And if þe sette be wyde, þe forseyd forster … shulde warne þe Sherefe of þe Shyre … forto ordeyne stable suffisaunte and kartes eke forto brynge þe deer þat shulde be slayne.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Chron., VI. xvi. 1609. As he past … In til huntynge hym to play,… On his gamyn al thouchty, Þe stable [MS. Wemyss staill] and þe setis set.
2. A stand, halt (of armed men).
c. 1450. Merlin, xxii. 386. And ffrolle the Duke of Almayne come oute after and made his stablie vpon a litill river that is cleped Aroaise.
