Dictionary

Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.

Example: I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.

A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.

Example: The governor granted a stay of execution.

A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.

Example: stand at a stay

A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.

To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.

To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.

To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.

To restrain; withhold; check; stop.

A prop; a support.

A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.

Example: Where are the stays for my collar?

(in the plural) A corset.

A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.

A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.

A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.

Example: The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding.

The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.

To brace or support with a stay or stays

Example: stay a mast

To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.

To tack; put on the other tack.

Example: to stay ship

To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.

Steep; ascending.

(of a roof) Steeply pitched.

Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.

Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.

Steeply.