[Of uncertain origin.
The verb appears in our quots. a little earlier than the related STAKE sb.2, and may be its source. On this view it may be a. MDu. staken to fix, place (see prec.). On the other hand, it is possible that the vb. may be f. the sb.]
1. intr. To wager, hazard money, on the event of a game or contest. Now apprehended as absol. use of sense 3.
1530. Palsgr., 732/1. I stake in a play, je boute. I wyll nat play, except every mans take.
1591. [see 3].
1631. Hausted, Rival Friends, I. ii. Vrs. What shall we play for? Mer. Two pinnes a game. Vrs. Stake then.
1708. Yorkshire Racers, 10. And Tandem stakes both for himself and friend.
1896. Spectator, 10 Oct., 480/1. As a rule a woman who plays cards for money feels like the cashier who is staking out of his master’s till.
2. trans. To stake down: to deposit (a sum of money) as a wager or stake on the result of a game or contest. Also absol.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Contendere, Pignore aliquo contendere, to gage or stake downe somwhat and pay for it.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 218. Gra. Weele play … for a thousand ducats. Ner. What and stake downe?
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 198. So Wagers made by lookers on vpon other mens games are disallowed, which is the cause that Stipulations are made, putting the pawne or money downe, which is called, to stake downe.
1663. Butler, Hud., II. i. 294. And if you doubt it to be true I’ll stake myself down against you.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., ii. Our landlord here shall hold stakes, and I will stake down gold till I send the linen.
3. To pat at hazard (a sum of money, an article of value, etc.) upon the cast of dice, the result of a competition or game, the event of a contingency, etc.; to wager.
1591. Florio, 2nd Fruites, 25. T. Let vs keepe the lawes of the court. G. That is, stake money vnder the line…. H. Here is my monie, now stake you.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 183. He … No lesser of her Honour confident … stakes this Ring.
1754. Johnson, Connoisseur, No. 44, ¶ 1. Other Ladies of the family are staking their half-pence at Put or All-Fours in the kitchen.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., Forester, Bet. Sir Philip staked his handsome horse Sawney against Archibald’s sorry pony.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 168. I’ll stake my ruby ring upon it you did.
1885. Spectator, 25 July, 977/2. The believer had the courage of his opinions and staked ten dollars on a magician whom he knew.
4. fig. To risk the loss of, to hazard.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. IV. 147. Men of Quality, who had generously stak’d their persons for the good of their fellow Citizens.
1766. Gibbon, Decl. & F., v. (1782), I. 148. They had staked their lives against the chance of empire.
1868. Stanley, Westm. Abbey, iv. 248. On it the sculptor Gibbs staked his immortality.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 4 (1882), 378. Mary had staked all on her union with Darnley.
