Pa. t. and pa. pple. stayed. Forms: 5 steyyn, 6 stee, stai, 6–7 staye, staie, stey(e, 7 steaye, 5– stay. Pa. t. and pple. 5–8 stayd, 6 Sc. stayit, -et, steyit, 6–7 stayde, staied, staide, 6–9 staid, 6– stayed. [Prob. a. OF. (e)stai-, (e)stei-, flexional stem of ester (:—L. stāre) to stand. Cf. the earlier RESTAY v.
In AF. the regular form of the pres. sing. indic. was estais, estait; an inf. *esteier, *estaier may have existed in colloquial use, but has not been found; the gerund esteaunt (three syllables) occurs in Boeve de Haumtone (ed. Stimming) 2244. Eastern and North-eastern dialects of OF. have an inf. form esteir. Other North-eastern forms cited by Godefroy are staieiz (2 pl. pres.), stairont (3 pl. fut.).
The view adopted by Skeat, that the original sense was to support (see STAY v.2), and that from this the other senses were developed in the order ‘to hold, retain, delay, abide,’ cannot be said to involve any abstract improbability, but the chronology of the appearance of the senses in English is strongly unfavorable to it.]
I. intr. * To cease moving, halt.
† 1. To cease going forward; to stop, halt; to arrest one’s course and stand still. Obs. (exc. as in b.)
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 473/1. Steyyn or steppyn of gate (v.r. stoppyn), restito, obsto.
1576. Gascoigne, Philomene (Arb.), 90. she came apace, and stately did she stay.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. xxxix. 372. Whosoeuer hath receiued of this seede [stavesacre], must walke without staying.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 33. Stay you that beare the Coarse, & set it down.
1601. Holland, Pliny, viii. xl. I. 219. The dogges which be neere unto Nilus, lap of the riuer, running still and never stay while they are drinking, because they will give no vantage at all to be a prey unto the greedie Crocodiles.
1611. Bible, Josh. x. 13. And the Sunne stood still, and the Moone stayed, vntill the people had auenged themselues vpon their enemies.
1640. trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., I. xxii. 96. Their Bark staying at an Island,… they went on shore.
1777. Sir W. Jones, Caissa, 135. With radiant feet he pierc’d the clouds nor stay’d Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid.
b. To stop, halt, pause and (do somewhat), or in order to (do something). Now somewhat rare.
1577. Harrison, England, III. iv. 103, in Holinshed. His gromes and gentlemen passed by it as disdaining to stoupe & take vp such a trifle: but he knowing ye owner commaunded one of them to staye & take it vp.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 54. Anon a carelesse Heard … iumps along by him And neuer staies to greet him.
1750. Gray, Long Story, 55. The Heroines … Rap’d at the door, nor stay’d to ask, But bounce into the parlour enter’d.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxviii. Emily scarcely stayed to thank him for it.
1865. Visct. Milton & W. B. Cheadle, Northwest Passage by Land, viii. (1867), 120. When we stayed to camp, [we] shivered and shook as we essayed to light a fire.
2. To cease or desist from some specified activity. Const. from. Obs. or arch.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 86. This is the purpose and meaning of them all, in generall: not to stay, till they haue procured the slaughter of Cæsar.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 15. He hearkned, and did stay from further harmes.
1611. Bible, 2 Kings xiii. 18. And he smote thrise, and stayed.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. He that, building, stayes at one Floore, or the second, hath erected none.
1654. Z. Coke, Logick, 77. In Etymologies we must not go on without End, but must stay in some that is first.
1864. Amelia B. Edwards, Barbara’s Hist., lix. I wept, and could not stay from weeping.
† b. To cease speaking, break off one’s discourse; to pause, stop or hesitate before speaking. Said also of a discourse. Obs.
1551. T. Wilson, Logic, I. K ij. Aesope coulde not vtter his minde at large, but dyd stammer, and staye muche in his speche.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 286. And here steyinge a whyle, he began to speake ageyne and sayde.
1571. Grindal, Injunct., B iv b. Nor the Minister shall pawse or stay between the morning prayer, Letanie and Communion.
1600. Chester Pl., Proem 163. And after those ended, yet doth not the storie staye.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 25. I cannot here stay … to examine the particular Reasons of it.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 485. So talk’d he, while the Son of God went on And staid not, but in brief him answer’d thus.
c. In imper. used as an injunction to pause, arrest one’s course, not to go on doing something. Hence often = give me time to consider, decide, etc.; wait for me to make some remark or give some order.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 364. Stay, stand apart, I know not which is which. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., V. v. 84. But stay, I smell a man of middle earth.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum. (1601). L 4. Cle. Stay now let me see, oh signior Snow-liuer I had almost forgotten him.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIV. vii. If you knew my father, you would never think of obtaining his consent—Stay, there is one way.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxiii. And begone!—Yet stay.
1873. B. Harte, Caldwell of Springfield, in Fiddletown, etc. 81. Nothing more did I say? Stay one moment; you’ve heard [etc.].
3. Of an action, activity, process, etc.: To be arrested, to stop or cease at a certain point, not to progress or go forward. Obs. or arch.
1563. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. 164. The same courte … shall stey & cease vntyll the xv.th daye of September next commynge.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 291. Neither did the matter stay here.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., II. iv. 76. And’t please your Grace, here my Commission stayes.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 421. Nor yet staid the terror there.
1820. Keats, Hyperion, I. 295. Therefore the operations of the dawn Stay’d in their birth.
† b. Of a line: To cease being prolonged, to terminate (at a point). Obs.
1563. Shute, Archit., D j b. The vprighte line, which staieth at the ouerthwart line.
1660. H. Bloome, Archit., D d 1. Turne another halfe Circle, which shall stay at the place.
** To remain stationary.
4. To remain in a place or in others’ company (as opposed to going on or going away).
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse Govt., V. ii. Wks. 1910, II. 74. Fidus. Stay a while good fellowe…. Nuntius. Yea but I may not long tary.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. vii. 62. If you thinke so, then stay at home, and go not.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, IX. 334. In rainie weather it so increaseth, that trauellers … are constrained to staie two or three daies by the riuers side till it be decreased.
1615. Heywood, Foure Prentises, I. B 3 b. If I knew where to go to warre, I would not stay in London one houre longer.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 19. Those that won’t take the Pains to follow us, may stay where they are.
1702. Sir D. Hume, Diary Parl. Scot. (Bannatyne Club), 82. As to the transporting the Forces, she [the Queen] signifies her inclinations it be done, unless there be an absolute necessity for their staying.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. i. I grew weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1754), I. l. 398. He comes for half an hour, and stays an hour.
1757. Gray, Bard, 101. Stay, oh stay! nor thus forlorn Leave me unbless’d.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Homes Abroad, i. 18. His wife seemed utterly indifferent whether she went or staid.
1849. M. Arnold, Forsaken Merman, 20. Mother dear, we cannot stay!
1897. Hall Caine, Christian, x. If you’re badly bored we’ll not stay long.
b. contextually. To be allowed to remain; to be left in (undisturbed) residence or tenancy.
1765. Bickerstaff, Maid of Mill, II. ii. 27. I am determined farmer Giles shall not stay a moment on my estate, after next quarter day.
c. To remain and (do something).
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., V. iv. 47. Stay, and breath awhile.
1601. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., V. iv. 2237. Nay stay a while and helpe me to content.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. ii. ‘You will stay and take some tea, Mr. Sheringham,’ said Lovell.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, v. ‘I need not go, I suppose?’ ‘No! I wish you would stay and talk.’
d. With inf.: To remain or tarry in order to (do something). Also to stay to (dinner, etc.).
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 66. Away, I say: stayest thou to vexe me here.
1663. Patrick, Pilgrim, xxii. (1687), 229. If you mean to finish your journey, stay not to listen to their tales.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 31. The Ale-Wives tickle him in the Gills with the Title of Captain, which makes him oft-times stay to get drunk in their Houses, out of pure Joy and Gratitude.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., II. xcv. Thou hast ceased to be! Nor stay’d to welcome here thy wanderer home.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxvii. Some hilding fellow he must be, who dared not stay to assert his claim to the tourney prize which chance had assigned him.
1908. S. E. White, Riverman, viii. Your friend seems a nice-appearing young man…. Wouldn’t he stay to dinner?
e. with advs., as to stay away, behind, down, in, on, out, up.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., II. ii. 154. Towards Ludlow then, for we will not stay behinde.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Shilling, B 5. Whilst all the Drawers must stay vp and waite Vpon these fellowes be it ne’re so late.
1664. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 236. My fathar stais so long a wae.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 120, ¶ 14. In Winter … she grows more assiduous in her Attendance, and stays away but half the Time.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 176. We seven stay’d at Christmas up to read.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 341. They might come if they liked, and they might stay away if they liked.
1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton, x. 98. Sometimes Blazes had a lazy fit, and put himself on the sick list for a day. This was called ‘stay-out,’ for the reason that one had to stay in. Ibid. One day it happened that I was ‘staying out’ on the same day as Blazes.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, vi. I must go with you. I feel as if I could not bear to stay behind!
1901. Athenæum, 27 July, 121/1. The habit of frequent ‘staying out,’ Etonian for staying in, on the score of feeble health.
1904. E. H. Coleridge, Life & Corr. Ld. Coleridge, I. iv. 58. Friends … who wrote to him during the vacations and when he was obliged to ‘stay down,’ owing to prolonged ill-health.
1911. A. Plummer, Churches Brit. bef. A.D. 1000, I. iv. 122. Wilfrid made the grave mistake of staying on in Gaul, we know not why.
f. U.S. (See quot.)
1889. Farmer, Americanisms, s.v., Lovers stay with one another when courting.
5. Of a thing: To remain (in a place or position); to remain (as opposed to being lost, changing its nature, etc.). Now somewhat rare.
1593. Tell-Trothes N. Y. Gift (1876), 5. A lesson learned with stroakes, staies with the scholler.
1639. G. Plattes, Discov. Subterr. Treas., 29. No royall Metall will stay in the Cinder, but sinke down into the Lead, through an attractiue vertue betwixt them.
1663. Patrick, Pilgrim, xxviii. ¶ 1. Having at last overcome the excess of it [sc. his joy], and dissembled it also while it staid as well as he could.
a. 1827. Wordsw., Somnamb., 62. Delightful blossoms for the May Of absence! but they will not stay, Born only to depart.
b. Of food, etc.: To be retained by the stomach after swallowing. Also (U.S. colloq.) to give lasting satisfaction to hunger.
1643. Steer, trans. Exp. Chyrurg., ix. 43. By reason of the Childs unpatience I could not make the Medicine stay.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 472. I took a Draught of Water without Sugar, and that stay’d with me.
1894. Fiske, Holiday Stor. (1900), 128. ‘No,’ replied the boy…. ‘No; stew’s good, but they don’t stay wid yer. Kin I have somethink solid?’
† c. To remain adhering to. Obs. rare–1.
1684. R. Waller, Nat. Exper., 45. We apply’d it to several pieces of Straw, which in the Descent of the Mercury stayed to the sides of the Glass.
6. With predicative extension: To remain in the specified condition.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 11. To staie amis, not hauing this.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 348. Ile tel you … who Time gallops withal, and who he stands stil withall…. Who staies it stil withal?
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, I. 20. That this their meate may not stay long vndigested in their stomackes, they sup off the foresaid broth.
1640. Suckling, Ballade upon Wedding, 38. Her finger was so small, the Ring Would not stay on which he did bring, It was too wide a Peck.
1855. Lynch, Rivulet, LVII. vi. No heart that desponds Desponding need stay.
1865. Ruskin, Eth. Dust, iv. (1883), 79. I can bend them up and down and they stay bent.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. II. iii. 121. She grows not old, stays ever young and warm.
b. To stay put: to remain where or as placed; to remain fixed or steady; also fig. (of persons, etc.). U.S. colloq.
1848. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., s.v. Put, To stay put, to remain in order; not to be disturbed. A vulgar expression.
1864. Maria S. Cummins, Haunted Hearts, iv. 47. ‘Dear me, Anglie, this curl sticks right out straight!’ ‘Couldn’t you put this pin in for me, so that it would stay put, Angie?
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 248. He has a prodigious talent, to use our Yankee phrase, of staying put.
† c. To remain without specific definition in a general class. Obs. (nonce-use.)
1592. West, 1st Pt. Symbol., I. xii. (1594), A 3 b. Named Contracts, be those which haue a cause by law defined, and they are called by proper names. The same also be termed certain…. Besides these all the reste are vncertaine, as steying in that their generall appellation or name.
7. With emphasis or contextual coloring: a. To tarry or linger where one is; to delay (as opposed to going on). Chiefly with negative. Cf. sense 4 d.
a. 1500[?]. London Lyckpeny, ii. (MS. Harl. 367). Yet for all that I stayd not longe, Tyll to the kynges bench I was come.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. vi. 4 b. [He] was again sent … to the King to aduertise him of our arriual, who stayed not, but straightwayes ther came with him diuers other Chiaous, captaines and Ianissaries to receiue the Ambassadour.
1611. Bible, Josh. x. 19. And stay you not, but pursue after your enemies. Ibid., 1 Sam. xx. 38. And Ionathan cryed after the ladde, Make speed, haste, stay not.
1616. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. v. 112. His eye deceiued mingles his colours wrong, There strikes too little, and here stayes too long.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxi. 196. Husband, stay not [Jam licet venias]: a bride within Coucheth ready.
b. To stand one’s ground, stand firm (as opposed to fleeing or budging). Now rare.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. iii. 50. And giue them leaue to flye, that will not stay.
1597. Lok, Sundry Chr. Pass., I. liii. But yet (in hope of grace from thee) I stay, And do not yeeld, although my courage quaile.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 1082. Who, born the fair side of the Alps, will budge, When Dante stays, when Ariosto stays, When Petrarch stays for ever?
† c. Of a thing. To linger, be long in coming or beginning. Obs.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. Why staies the doome of death?
1639. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 355. If the good theeves helpe had stay’d a little longer, it is likely that it had come too late.
8. To reside or sojourn in a place for a longer or shorter period; to sojourn or put up with a person as his guest.
1554. in P. F. Tytler, Eng. Edw. VI. & Mary (1839), II. 410. From Villa Franca unto St. James’,… where he stayeth about two days.
1617. Acct. Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 214. He stayed at Rippon one night.
1666. H. Jackson, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 248. I travailed Seaven miles that morneing, and then stayed at a friends house, intending in a short time, to have passed on my journey.
1674. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 288. I will come over post and stay a month wth Essex.
1823. A. Clarke, Mem. Wesley Fam., 514. While she staid with her uncle.
1831. Society, I. 287. She had hoped a very lovely girl staying in the house, would be a counter-charm to the other.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. viii. 121. It was arranged … that Ellesmere should come and stay a day or two with me.
1883. Ruskin, Art of Eng., 24. Two English ladies … were staying at the same hotel.
1905. Elin. Glyn, Viciss. Evangeline, 162. I don’t think Park Street is the place for you to stay.
b. To dwell, lodge, reside (permanently or regularly). Sc. and colonial.
1754. E. Burt, Lett. N. Scotl. (1818), I. 20. I was told that I must … inquire for such a launde (or building), where the gentleman stayd, at the third stair, that is, three stories high.
1800. Monthly Mag., I. 322. [Scotticisms], He stays in the Canongate, means, He lives in that suburb.
Mod. (Sc.) Mr. A. moved last Whitsunday; I don’t know where he stays now.
Mod. (Cape Colony: communicated.) Englishman. Who lived in that house last? Colonial. Oh, Mr. Brown stayed there.
c. To come to stay: To become permanent or established, to come into regular use or recognition; to assume a secure position in public favor or as meeting a public need. colloq.
1863. A. Lincoln, Lett. to Conkling, 26 Aug., in E. McPherson, Polit. Hist. U.S. Rebell. (1864), 336. I hope it [sc. peace] will come soon, and come to stay.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 9 May 2/1. Those dreadful [advertisement] boards—their dimensions are 18 ft. by 6 ft.—have, as the Yankees put it, ‘come to stay.’
1901. Athenæum, 13 April, 455/1. The issue … of Byron’s letters will leave very little doubt … that Lord Byron as a letter-writer has ‘come to stay.’
9. To remain inactive or quiet; to wait (without doing anything or making progress); to put off action (until). Cf. stay for, 14 b. ? Obs.
a. 1500. Image Ipocr., III. 27, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 433. Some be still and stey, And hope to haue a daye.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., xvi. 216. All the which thinges they haue euer to theyr powers resisted, and ofte desired the Archebishop, that he woulde staye vntyll the counsell.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. ii. 131. Madam: dinner is ready, and your father staies.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (Camden), 125. The booke of the Colleccions of the presidents not yett bounde. Whether you wyll use the booke as yt is, or staye untill to-morrowe?
1625. Bacon, Ess., Delays. Fortune is like the Market; where many times, if you can stay a little, the Price will fall.
1640. Suckling, Lett., Fragm. Aur. (1648), 91. Nor must he stay to act till his people desire.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Luke ii. 28. Though God stays long before he fulfils his promises, he certainly comes at last with a double reward for our expectation.
1751. Chesterf., Lett., III. ccliv. 166. I told you in a former letter … that I should stay till I received the patterns pitched upon by your ladies.
† 10. Of a business or other matter: To be deferred or postponed for a season; to be kept waiting, be allowed to wait Obs.
1642. trans. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., v. § 335. 148. Execution shall stay during the Terme of yeares.
1680. Otway, Orphan, I. iv. The time has been When business might have stay’d and I been heard.
1728. Swift, Jrnl. Modern Lady, 93. The footman, in his usual phrase, Comes up with ‘Madam, dinner stays.’
† 11. a. To scruple, be in doubt, raise difficulties (at). b. To delay in (doing something). c. To hesitate, delay, be slow, scruple to (do something). d. To refrain from. Obs.
1533. More, Apol., xxii. 135 b. At some of them [prelates proposed to be replaced by laymen] they stayed and stakered.
1539. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 174. It is not to be doubted, but whenne all the rest shulde be agreed, no man wold styck nor staye for any parte concerning her beautie and goodnes but rather haue more then contentement.
1551. R. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, I. (1895), 83. Whyles they all staye at the chyefeste dowte of all, what to doo in the meane tyme with England.
1553. Brende, Q. Curtius, IX. 192. Whye doest thou staye in riddyng me quickelye out of this payne?
1583. Babington, Commandm. (1590), 287. Their bolde speaking is not euer sounde proouing, and therefore wee stay to beleeue them.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (1841), 34. Mal. Do you heare, mother? would you stay from pleasure When yee haue minde to it?… Mis. Bar. Well, lustie guts, I meane to make ye stay, And set some rubbes in your mindes smothest way.
c. 1605. Rowley, Birth Merl., V. ii. 46. Why do we stay to binde those Princely browes With this Imperial Honor?
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 31. Which though I stay not to confesse ere any aske.
12. Sport. To last, hold out, exhibit powers of endurance in a race or run. Also, to hold out for (a specified distance). [? Derived from sense 7 b.]
1834. Darvill, Race Horse (1846), II. 44. If he finds that his horses can go faster and stay longer at the pace by being drawn fine.
1860. Rous, in Baily’s Mag., I. 18. There is another popular notion that our horses cannot now stay four miles.
1871. M. Collins, Mrq. & Merch., III. iv. 114. Such a galloper—and can’t he stay!
1874. Slang Dict., 309. Stay, to exhibit powers of endurance at walking, running, rowing, etc.
1889. The Pauline, VIII. 39. The Indian Civil boat made a good race of it for half the course but could not stay.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 841. [Alcohol] may enable a man ‘to spurt’ but not ‘to stay.’
b. To keep up with (a competitor in a game, a race, etc.). U.S. colloq.
1887. F. Francis, Jr. Saddle & Mocassin, 145. Sam ’ll ‘stay with em’ as long as he’s got a check. Ibid., 177. But they couldn’t bluff the old man off; he stayed with them.
1894. Outing, XXIV. 342/3. I determined upon a course which would in the end enable me to score my elk, and that was simply to ‘stay with it.’
13. Poker. ‘To come in when an ante has been raised’ (Cent. Dict.); also to stay in. To stay out, to go out of the game.
1882. Poker; How to play it, 8. If a number of players have gone in, it is best generally for the ante-man to make good and go in, even with a poor hand, because half his stake is already up, and he can therefore stay in for half as much as the others have had to put up. Ibid., 12. Everybody stayed out except one man.
1897. R. F. Foster, Compl. Hoyle, 183. (Poker) Suppose there has been no straddle, and that all conclude to stay, as it is called.
14. To stay for —. a. To remain or wait in a place for (a person or thing); to remain and take part in or witness (a meal, ceremony, etc.); to await the coming of.
1554. in P. F. Tytler, Eng. Edw. VI. & Mary (1839), II. 410. And so to the Groyne … where he will stay only for a good wind.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 382. Thy Master staies for thee at the North gate.
1628. Digby, Voy. Mediterr. (Camden), 9. But they steyed for us and made readie for fight.
1763. Bickerstaff, Loue in Village, II. ix. Well, sir, will you read this letter,… it is just brought by a servant, who stays for an answer.
1796. Mrs. M. Robinson, Angelina, I. 270. We shall stay for you in the wilderness.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., II. ix. ‘Come, Doctor,’ said Lady Frances, ‘stay for coffee.’
† b. To wait or tarry for (a person or thing) before doing or beginning to do something. Sometimes contextually, to be compelled to wait for. Obs.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 314. Come, gentle M. Slender, come; we stay for you.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Truth (Arb.), 499. What is Truth; said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an Answer.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, II. xxvi. 150. The Civill Law takes away that Liberty, in all cases where the protection of the Law may be safely stayd for.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., II. i. 22. Dinner’s serv’d, and the Ladies stay for us.
1705. H. Blackwell, Engl. Fencing-Master, 16. If the Hand stays for the Foot, the Thrust is much slower.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 126. You see, sir John, we stay’d for you, as one Horse does for another.
† c. contextually. (To be forced) to wait for (something one wishes or hopes to get). Obs.
1592. Murther J. Brewen, in Kyd’s Wks. (1901), 288. [He] requested that he might haue his gifts againe, to whom disdainfully she made answere that he should stay for it.
1780. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 10 July. For all this I must stay, but life will not stay.
† d. said of a thing. Obs.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, II. ii. Wks. (1616), 291. There’s a slight banquet staies within for you.
1603. Dekker, Wonderfull Yeare, F 4. Another poore wretch … throwne … into a graue vpon a heape of carcases, that stayd for their complement.
1662. J. Dixon in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 144. You are desired to seend your Collecttion yt was for London with speed for it steayes for youres and mosdals.
† 15. To stay of —. To be delayed by, be kept waiting by, have to wait for (a person or thing). Obs. [Cf. midl. dial. ‘to wait of’ = to wait for.]
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 1168/2. I stay of this; Hoc mihi moræ est. Ibid. Fetch the Midwife that we may not stay of her; Obstetricem accerse, ne in mora nobis fiet. Ibid., 1169/1. I will tell them they shall not stay of us; Illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram.
16. To stay on, upon —. † a. To wait for (a person); to await, await the issue of (an event, circumstance); to attend on, be subject to (a person’s will or pleasure, etc.). Obs.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, Ep. to King b iij. Where as nowe the scholers … haue no maner remedy, but vtterly and holly to staye vpon theyt maysters mouth.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 20. You haue done wrong to this my honest friend, Who but for staying on our Controuersie, Had hoisted saile, and put to sea to day. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, III. v. 48. I thanke you, and will stay vpon your leisure. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. i. 47. I haue a Seruant comes with me along That staies vpon me.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XIV. 308. We little need to stay On his assistance, if we would our owne strengths call to field.
† b. To dwell upon (a topic, subject); to sustain or stress (a note in singing). Of the eye: To rest upon, be arrested by (an object of vision). Obs.
c. 1580. Lodge, Repl. Gosson’s Sch. Abuse, 24. But other matter call [sic] me and I must not staye vpon this onely.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iv. 24. My life vpon’t, yong though thou art, thine eye Hath staid vpon some fauour that it loues.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxiii. § 22. 97. I haue staied the longer vpon this precept … because it is a maine part by it selfe.
1667. [see STAY sb.3 3 d].
II. quasi-trans. and trans. uses derived from I.
17. quasi-trans. To remain for, to remain and participate in or assist at (a meal, ceremony, prayers, etc.); to remain throughout or during (a period of time). = stay for, 14 a.
1570. in Kempe, Losely MSS. (1836), 234. At the tyme poynted he cam and stayd the service, from the beginning to th’end.
1599. Hayward, 1st Pt. Life Hen. IV., 26. So the Duke, and the rest of the lords departed, except the Earle of Darby, who stayed supper with the King.
1661. P. Henry, Diaries & Lett. (1882), 85. I stay’d ye sermon.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 29 Nov. 1661. My Lord Mordaunt, with whom I staid the night.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina (1791), I. xx. 87. We intended to stay the farce. Ibid. (1786), Diary, 27 July (1842–6), III. 37. At the dessert I was very agreeably surprised by the entrance of Sir Richard Jebb, who stayed coffee.
1808. Jane Austen, Lett. (1884), I. 357. She stayed the Sacrament, I remember, the last time that you and I did.
1832. Moore, Mem. (1854), VI. 244. Went to Bowood, and stayed prayers.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XI. iii. (1872), IV. 51. A certain Colonel … contrives to get invited to stay dinner.
1888. G. Gissing, Life’s Morning, II. xi. 135. I’m obliged to ask them to stay tea.
18. quasi-trans. with out. a. To remain to the end of; to remain and witness the end of. Also, to remain beyond the limit of, outstay.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. xxi. 206. By this time Lewis in Syria had stayed out the death and buriall of all his hopes to receive succour from his own countrey.
1768. Lady M. Coke, Jrnl., 27 Feb. Went to the new Opera:… upon the whole dull—not that I staid it out.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1872), I. 2. It seemed as if we had stayed our English welcome out.
b. To remain longer than (another), outstay.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIII. iv. The company had now staid so long, that Mrs. Fitzpatrick plainly perceived they all designed to stay out each other.
19. trans. To wait for, await (a person, his coming, an event, etc.); to wait upon, serve (a person’s leisure); to abide, sustain (a question, onset). Now arch. (= stay for 14 a, b, stay upon 16 a).
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xviii. § 6. Never staying either judge, trumpet, or his owne launce, [he] drew out his sword.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 40. Ne thou for better hope, if thou his presence stay.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 235. I will not stay thy questions, let me go. Ibid. (1592), Ven. & Ad., 894. They basely flie and dare not stay the field.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Elder Bro., II. i. Like a blushing Rose that staies the pulling. Ibid. (a. 1625), M. Thomas, V. ii. Get you afore and stay me at the Chapel.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 22. Neither doe they stay our leisure to let us take a full view of them.
1705. trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 472. I was … desired to stay the arrival of their King.
1811. Spirit Publ. Jrnls. (1813), XVI. 7. They would not stay our arrival; for, the moment they saw us, they made off.
1864. Realm, 6 June, 1. The overhurry of the messenger (who had stayed no question) induced suspicion.
1888. Stevenson, Black Arrow, 6. There is a fight toward,… and my lord stays a reinforcement.
b. = to stay to make or offer. poet.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 193. I cannot stay thanksgiuing. Ibid., IV. ii. 147. Stay not thy complement, I forgiue thy duetie, adue.
III. trans. To stop, arrest, check.
20. To detain, hold back, stop (a person or thing); to check or arrest the progress of, bring to a halt; to hinder from going on or going away; to keep in a fixed place or position. Now only literary.
[c. 1440. ? see 1.]
1532. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 351. Ye lytell Regarding the kynges auctoryte and Commyssyon have stayed dyuers masons and woorkmen abowte you.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Job xxxviii. 11. And here shal it staye thy proud waues.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 136. Than the tounes men … stayed the reste that would lykewise have invaded.
1562. Gresham, in Burgon, Life (1839), II. 9. To wryte me your pleasure whether I shall send you Doctor Mount’s letters in post, or to stey them bye me till the ordinary post goeth.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 310. A running streame is stayed by weedes and shallownesse.
1627. Lisander & Calista, II. 31. While the rain stayes you here.
1635. R. N., Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 20. An infinite masse of money being stayed at home, which was wont to be exported daily to Rome.
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., ii. (1661), 25. They … are like men running down a steep hill that cannot stay themselves.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 255. He stay’d me to dine with him.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 14 Nov. 1672. This businesse staide me in London almost a weeke.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Fille de Chambre (1778), II. 3. As I had nothing to stay me in the shop, we both walk’d out.
1782. Cowper, John Gilpin, 37. So three doors off the chaise was stay’d.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xiv. The plough was in mid-furrow staid.
1830. Tennyson, Poems, 96. Thou shalt not wander hence to-night, I’ll stay thee with my kisses.
1873. Helps, Anim. & Mast., vi. 152. Among the reeds, where, at the moment, we had stayed the boat.
1902. Munsey’s Mag., XXVI. 596/1. Attacking and withdrawing again before any force could be mobilized to stay him.
b. const. from.
1591. H. Smith, Serm., Restitut. Nebuchad., 15. Therefore when he knew this, nothing could stay him from his kingdome, no more then they could stay him in his kingdome before.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. vii. § 7. 32 b. They are indeed but Remoraes and hinderances to stay and slugge the Shippe from furder sayling.
1618. W. Lawson, Orch. & Gard., ii. (1623), 4. Make Trenches by degrees,… so as the Water may be staied from passage.
1703. Evelyn, Diary, 21 Nov. The wet and uncomfortable weather staying us from church this morning.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxiii. O sweet new-year delaying long … What stays thee from the clouded noons?
† c. refl. To abide (in a place); to take up a settled residence. Similarly in passive. Obs.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, VIII. (1562), Bb iiij. Than at Etruria sore affright did settling stay them selues, & in ye field their camp haue pight.
1563. Homilies, II. Of Place & Time of Prayer, I. 139 b. They were not stayed in any place, but were in a continuall peregrination and wandering.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Romulus (1595), 20. Some thinke that the Pelasgians … in the end did stay themselues in that place where it [Rome] was new builded.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 67. For nothing would she lenger there be stayd, Where so loose life … Was vsd of Knights and Ladies seeming gent.
d. poet. To take prisoner; to hold in confinement or captivity.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 40. And captiues to redeeme with price of bras From Turkes and Sarazins, which them had stayd.
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 600. Three knights Defend the passings,… and a fourth … holds her stay’d In her own castle.
21. To render motionless or keep immovable; to fix, hold fast.
1627. May, Lucan, II. (1631), C 8. Each Galley doe foure anchors stay.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 8. Bring the Index of the Moon to the West-by-North Point, staying it there.
1811. Wordsw., Misc. Sonn., I. ix. 1. Praised be the Art whose subtle power could stay Yon cloud, and fix it in that glorious shape.
1855. Tennyson, Daisy, 23. Till, in a narrow street and dim, I stay’d the wheels at Cogoletto. Ibid. (1868), Lucretius, 257. My golden work in which I told a truth That stays the rolling Ixionian wheel.
† b. To cause to rest or remain on something; to rest or fix (the eyes) on an object. Obs.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XXX. xi. Lord, heare, lett mercy thine be staid On me.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Elixer, iii. A man that looks on glasse, On it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth, through it passe, And then the heav’n espie.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., II. 102. Your second and third Fingers staid upon the Hair, by which you may poise and keep up your Bow.
22. a. To detain or delay (a reader).
1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., 261. To the end the disordered division of the Chapters may not trouble or stay the readers.
1653. H. More, Conject. Cabbal., 93. Not to stay you with too tedious a Prologue to the matter in hand.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., I. v. § 16. I was willing to stay my Reader on an Argument, that appears to me new.
b. To arrest (the attention).
1639. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 193. His consideration was no lesse stayed by her vertue, then his sences charmed by her beauty.
† c. To stop the course of, terminate (a line).
1563. Shute, Archit., ciij. The vpright line … which stayeth that lyne which is drawen ouerthwart the pillor.
23. To prevent, hinder, stop (a person or thing) from doing something; to check, restrain. Const. from, † of (a course of action, etc.); † to (with inf.): † but that. Now rare or poet.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 123 b. Kynge Ferdinando … commaunded the lawe to cease … but that woulde not staye them.
1562. T. Cooper, Answ. Def. Truth, xii. 85 b. If that would haue stayed you from wrytinge.
1566. Acts Gen. Assemb. Kirk Scot. (Maitland Club), I. 86. Diverse of our deirest brethren … by you are stayed to promote the kingdome of Chryst.
1574. A. L., Calvin’s Foure Serm., i. Nothing staied him but that he set up the true and pure religion.
1574. in Maitl. Club Misc., I. 104. Sene the tyme that thai war steyit of thair said pretendit mariage.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 191/2. Repagulum,… the barre which staieth horses from running.
1611. Bible, Haggai i. 10. Therefore the heauen ouer you is stayed from dew, and the earth is staied from her fruite.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1630), 87. When he stayed himselfe, and did it not, how did the Lord bring it to passe with out him?
1630. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 73. This made St. Augustine … to write his bookes … to stay his countriemen from Idolatrie.
1846. H. G. Robinson, Odes of Horace, II. viii. Lest your bewitching air should stay Their husbands from their duty.
1852. M. Arnold, Empedocles, I. ii. 125. Rivers are dried, winds stay’d.
† b. refl. To check oneself; to desist from something one is doing or intending to do; to cease speaking, writing, etc. Obs.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Haggai i. 10. Therefore the heauen ouer you staied it self from dewe.
1561. Clough, in Burgon’s Life Gresham (1889), I. 410. Herein I am somwatt tedyus: desyryng you to pardone me, for beyng ownse enteryd into the matter, I collde nott stee mysellfe.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Adelph., IV. iv. Neuerthelesse I staied my selfe, least I should vtter any thing of my brother to that babler.
c. with object a limb or activity of the body, a weapon, etc.; esp. to stay (one’s own or another’s) hand (chiefly fig., to cease or cause to cease from attack or working). Now somewhat arch.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Dan. iv. 35. And none can stay his hand, nor say vnto him, What doest thou?
1579. Gosson, Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 75. But I stay my handes till I see his booke.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IV. 65. The golden buckle of my belt … hath surely stayde the blow.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. ii. 104. Stay, stay thy hands, thou art an Amazon.
a. 1600. Flodden F., iii. (1664), 25. Himself set forth in seemly aray, And neither stint nor staid his foot.
1800. Wordsw., Pet Lamb, 16. But ere ten yards were gone her footsteps did she stay.
1877. Tyndall, in Daily News, 2 Oct., 2/5. That power did not work with delusions, nor will it stay its hand when such are removed.
1880. R. G. White, Every-Day Eng., xx. 303. My tongue is tied and my hand is stayed.
† d. To cause (a bell) to cease ringing. Obs.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Massacre at Paris, 452. And now stay That bel that to ye deuils mattins rings.
1655. F. Raworth, Jacob’s Ladder, 35. But Satan, stay the bels.
24. † a. Law. To hold back, refuse to release or cancel (a bond). Obs.
1578. Whetstone, 2nd Pt. Promos & Cass., II. v. Nay mary, the same I would gladly pay, But my bonde for the forfeyt he doth stay.
† b. To keep back or withhold (a person) temporarily from (something due). Obs.
1643. Baker, Chron., Hen. VII., 153. His brother Henry Duke of Yorke was stayed from the title of Prince of Wales, the space of halfe a yeer, till to women it might appear, whether the Lady Katherine, the Relict of Prince Arthur, were with childe, or no.
25. To stop, arrest, delay, prevent (an action or process, something which is begun or intended). Freq. in legal parlance.
1525. St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 513. On the morow … Your Highnes letters … arryvyd here, whiche stayde our goyng to thEmperour, unto we had perused them over.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 27 § 114. Item that no execucion of any iudgement geuen … be staied or deferred.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 114. Neither lette rayne nor thunder … stay thy iourney.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. iii. 78. Retreat is made, and Execution stay’d.
1665. Howard & Dryden, Ind. Queen, III. i. If you would have this Sentence staid.
1690. Dryden, Amphitryon, IV. i. You had best stay dinner, till he has proved himself to be Amphitryon in form of law.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xiv. 227. The courts of equity … will grant an injunction or order to stay waste, until the defendant shall have put in his answer.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, i. Wks. 1808, VIII. 186. When a neighbour sees a new erection, in the nature of a nuisance, set up at his door,… the judge … has a right to order the work to be staid.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. I. ix. 141. He marched against the Turks and stayed the tide of Ottoman inroad in Hungary.
1856. in Hurlstone & Norman’s Exch. Rep. (1857), I. 494. I do order … that until such indemnity be given all further proceedings be stayed.
1861. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. clxiii. 179. To stay printing, therefore, is the object of all who object to the knowledge it is to dispense.
1913. D. Bray, Life-Hist. Brāhūī, iv. 53. A death in the household or among the kin will stay a wedding forty days perforce, and maybe much longer.
b. To arrest the course or growth of (a disease, something noxious or destructive).
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., I. i. 1. We staye by them [sc. medicines] the fluxe of humours in their beginning.
1598. Bastard, Chrestol., VII. xx. 169. So in fayre faces moulds somtimes arise, Which serue to stay the surfeyte of our eyes.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. xxiv. 21. That the plague may be stayed from the people.
1653. T. Brugis, Vade Mecum (ed. 2), 61. It stayeth the cough.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, vii. 195. When the righteous man appears, who performs an act of retributive justice, then the curse is stayed.
1913. Standard, 14 July, 12/1. He was the first to help Jessop to stay the ‘rot’ that had set in on Thursday.
28. To leave off, cease, discontinue (doing something, an activity of one’s own). Also to delay, withhold (one’s good opinion, thanks). Now rare or Obs.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Supprimere iter, to stay or omitte a iourney.
c. 1550. J. Cheke, Lett., in Athenæum (1909), 28 Aug., 237/2. As a man often … deceived with your promises, I will stay my good opinion.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, Brief Descr. ❧ iij. Neither had this affliction (albeit it was mighty) bene so greuous if Sathan there had stayd his rage.
c. 1610. Women Saints, 199. Not intermitting or staying his talke of sublime things for his bodies infirmitie.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 9. Stay your Thanks a while, And pay them when you part.
1628. Prynne, Censure Cozens, 44. There is as much hope of making the restlesse Sunne to stay its motion.
1685. Lady R. Russell, Lett., I. xxvii. 72. I had not stayed supplying you with new French papers, but that I was doubtful how the last got to you.
1820. Keats, Isabella, xlvii. Then ’gan she work again; nor stay’d her care, But to throw back at times her veiling hair.
b. To cease to (do something). poet. rare–1.
1894. Bridges, Shorter P., V. Palm Willow, 2. The birds have stayed to sing.
† 27. To defend, guard (a place) against entry or incursion. Const. from. Obs.
1575. Churchyard, Chips, 44 b, marg. Sir Thomas Manners … was sent before to stay the gates.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl. (Arb.), 70. Demosthenes in Athens vsde his arte … stil to stay the towne from deepe deceite Of Philips wyles, which had besieged it.
28. To appease, allay (strife, tumult); † to reduce to order, bring under control (rebellious elements); † to compose (a disturbed district). † Also refl. to compose oneself, control one’s emotions. Now rare.
1537. R. Aske, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. III. 59. I prey your Lordship to stay your quarters, as I have doon thes parts.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Rich. III., 26 b. To putte some to execucion, and staie the countree, or els no small mischiefe had ensued.
1577. Kendall, Flowers of Epigr., Trifles, 2 b. Seke still to staie the stormes of sturdie strife.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 99. The Foxe, the Ape, and the Humble-Bee, Were still at oddes, being but three. Arm. Vntill the Goose came out of doore, Staying the oddes by adding foure.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Massacre at Paris, 439. I haue done what I could to stay this broile.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 688. Auria somewhat troubled with this sudden comming out of the enemie,… yet notably staied himself.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 477. This alone yet could not have stayed the Rebels.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., V. xxix. Old men … Bless’d him who staid the civil strife.
1877. Tennyson, Harold, I. ii. Should not England Love Aldwyth, if she stay the feuds that part The sons of Godwin from the sons of Alfgar By such a marrying?
29. To stay the stomach: to appease its cravings, stave off hunger; to quiet the appetite temporarily. Similarly to stay one’s longing, hunger, the appetite, etc. Also fig.
1608. Shaks., Per., V. iii. 83. Lord Cerimon, wee doe our longing stay To heare the rest vntolde.
1610. B. Jonson, Alchemist, III. v. A piece of ginger-bread, to be merry withall, And stay your stomack, lest you faint with fasting.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VII. 419. All this Income rather stayed the stomack, than satisfied the hunger of the Kings Exchequer.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., I. 23. Fat and clammy things stay too great hunger.
1739. H. Walpole, Lett. to R. West, 18 June. To stay your stomach, I will send you one of the vaudevilles or ballads.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xx. 258. A thing which when chewed will stay the appetite.
1877. Spurgeon, Serm., XXIII. 495. Present mercies are a sip by the way—a morsel eaten to stay the stomach.
1879. Stevenson, Trav. Cevennes, 89. Father Michael … gave me a glass of liqueur to stay me till dinner.
1888. Sat. Rev., 20 Oct., 453/1. It would appear that the fight at the Jalapla has … stayed the stomach of the Lamas for fighting.
IV. Combinations.
30. Combinations of the vb. + object: stay-plough = REST-HARROW (Prior, Plant-n., 1863); stay-stomach, a snack to stay the stomach or appetite; also fig.; † stay-time nonce-wd.,? something to arrest the flight of time. Also STAY-SHIP.
1800. Bentham, Wks. (1843), X. 356. The accompanying forgery papers I send you for a *stay stomach, to keep you in good humour.
1825. Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), II. 24. We had some bits of bread and meat in our pockets … which were merely intended as stay-stomachs.
1891. Ch. Times, 328/4. The cross bun on Good Friday … was the only stay-stomach permissible till 3 p.m.
1713. M. Henry, Catech. Youth, Wks. 1853, II. 162/2. We have more need of *STAY-times than pastimes.
31. Combinations of the vb. + adv. or advb. phrase, as stay-ashore, stay-away, one who stays ashore, etc.; stay-a-while Austral., the shrub Acacia colletioides, from the difficulty of penetrating a tract covered with it; stay-on adj., intended for guests who ‘stay on’ after an earlier function; stay over, a waiting at a port of transhipment when the regular connection has been missed. Also STAY-AT-HOME.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 July, 2/1. On landing the crew were severely censured by the *stay-ashores for ‘lack of courage.’
1867. Ch. & St. Rev., 2 Feb., 99. The intolerable dulness of the sermons, and the want of sympathy evinced by the sermonisers with the political aspirations of the *stayaways, were the reasons given.
1898. Morris, Austral Eng., 436. *Stay-it-while, a tangled bush; sometimes called Wait-a-while.
1900. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Married Miss Binks, 79. They sent out invitations for a sort of garden party with a *stay-on cold dinner and a dance to follow.
1898. M. Davitt, Life & Progr. Austral., 2. One of the most interesting experiences in a *‘stay over’ at this unsavoury place is that of watching the Arab porters coaling a ship.
32. The verb-stem used attrib., as stay-bit, a snack before a meal.
1833. Fraser’s Mag., VII. 686. Which might peradventure serve as a stay-bit to a ravenous public.
