stale.
No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.
Meaning & usage
No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.
No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; clichéd, hackneyed, dated.
Not new or recent; having been in place or in effect for some time.
Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.
a stale affidavit
a stale demand
Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.
Out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks.
Of data: out of date; not synchronized with the newest copy.
The bug was found to be caused by stale data in the cache.
No longer nubile or suitable for marriage; past one's prime.
Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong.
Fallow, in reference to land.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), but probably originally from Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”): compare West Flemish stel in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.
Something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), but probably originally from Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”): compare West Flemish stel in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.
To make stale; to cause to go out of fashion or currency; to diminish the novelty or interest of, particularly by excessive exposure or consumption.
To become stale; to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption.
To become stale; to grow unpleasant from age.
To make stale; to age in order to clear and strengthen (a drink, especially beer).
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), but probably originally from Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”): compare West Flemish stel in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.
A long, thin handle (of rakes, axes, etc.)
One of the posts or uprights of a ladder.
One of the rungs on a ladder.
The stem of a plant.
The shaft of an arrow, spear, etc.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old English stalu, from Proto-Germanic *stal-; compare English stell from this root. The development was paralleled by the ablaut which became English steal, from Middle English stele, from Old English stela, from Proto-Germanic *stel-. Both are from the same Proto-Indo-European root *stel-, *stol- (“to place, establish”), whence also Ancient Greek στελεός (steleós, “handle”). See also English stele.
To make a ladder by joining rungs ("stales") between the posts.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old English stalu, from Proto-Germanic *stal-; compare English stell from this root. The development was paralleled by the ablaut which became English steal, from Middle English stele, from Old English stela, from Proto-Germanic *stel-. Both are from the same Proto-Indo-European root *stel-, *stol- (“to place, establish”), whence also Ancient Greek στελεός (steleós, “handle”). See also English stele.
A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.
A stalemate; a stalemated game.
An ambush.
A band of armed men or hunters.
The main force of an army.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“place, something placed”) (compare French étal), from Frankish stal, from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, earlier *staþlaz. Related to stall and stand.
At a standstill; stalemated.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“place, something placed”) (compare French étal), from Frankish stal, from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, earlier *staþlaz. Related to stall and stand.
To stalemate.
To be stalemated.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“place, something placed”) (compare French étal), from Frankish stal, from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, earlier *staþlaz. Related to stall and stand.
Urine, especially used of horses and cattle.
Where this word comes from
Noun from Middle English stale, from Anglo-Norman estal (“urine”), from Middle Dutch stal (“urine”). Cognate with Middle Low German stal (“horse urine; bowel movement”). Verb from Middle English stalen, from Old French estaler (“urinate”), related to Middle High German stallen (“to piss”).
To urinate, especially used of horses and cattle.
Where this word comes from
Noun from Middle English stale, from Anglo-Norman estal (“urine”), from Middle Dutch stal (“urine”). Cognate with Middle Low German stal (“horse urine; bowel movement”). Verb from Middle English stalen, from Old French estaler (“urinate”), related to Middle High German stallen (“to piss”).
A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap.
Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.
An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait.
a partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another.
A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse.
A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman.
Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale (“bird used as a decoy”), probably from uncommon Anglo-Norman estale (“pigeon used to lure hawks”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic, probably *standaną (“to stand”). Compare Old English stælhran (“decoy reindeer”) and Northumbrian stællo (“catching fish”).
To serve as a decoy, to lure.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English stale (“bird used as a decoy”), probably from uncommon Anglo-Norman estale (“pigeon used to lure hawks”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic, probably *standaną (“to stand”). Compare Old English stælhran (“decoy reindeer”) and Northumbrian stællo (“catching fish”).
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.