Obs. Forms: 1 stalu, Northumb. stalo, 2 stala, 2–4 stale. [OE. stalu str. fem. = OHG. stala fem. (mod.G. -stahl in diebstahl masc., theft), f. OTeut. *stal-: *stel-: see STEAL v.]

1

  1.  Theft, stealing.

2

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xix. 18. Ne doe ðu ðiofonto vel stalo.

3

971.  Blickling Hom., 75. Þis þu cwist for þinre ʓitsunge & for þinre stale.

4

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 13. Stala and steorfa swiðe eow scal hene.

5

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 253. Þa … þe luueden tening [v.r. reuing] and stale.

6

1340.  Ayenb., 9. Ine þise heste is vorbode roberie, þiefþe, stale, and gavel.

7

  2.  By stale = by stealth.

8

a. 1240.  Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 249. Hire wune is to cumen bi stale … hwen me least cweneð.

9