[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

stay \stay\, n. cf. of. estai, f. 'etai support, and e. stay
   a rope to support a mast.
   1. that which serves as a prop; a support. "my only strength
      and stay." --milton.
      1913 webster

            trees serve as so many stays for their vines.
                                                  --addison.
      1913 webster

            lord liverpool is the single stay of this ministry.
                                                  --coleridge.
      1913 webster

   2. pl. a corset stiffened with whalebone or other material,
      worn by women, and rarely by men.
      1913 webster

            how the strait stays the slender waist constrain.
                                                  --gay.
      1913 webster

   3. continuance in a place; abode for a space of time;
      sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.
      1913 webster

            make haste, and leave thy business and thy care;
            no mortal interest can be worth thy stay. --dryden.
      1913 webster

            embrace the hero and his stay implore. --waller.
      1913 webster

   4. cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.
      1913 webster

            made of sphere metal, never to decay
            until his revolution was at stay.     --milton.
      1913 webster

            affairs of state seemed rather to stand at a stay.
                                                  --hayward.
      1913 webster

   5. hindrance; let; check. obs.
      1913 webster

            they were able to read good authors without any
            stay, if the book were not false.     --robynson
                                                  more's
                                                  utopia.
      1913 webster

   6. restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness;
      sobriety. obs. "not grudging that thy lust hath bounds
      and stays." --herbert.
      1913 webster

            the wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.
                                                  --bacon.
      1913 webster

            with prudent stay he long deferred
            the rough contention.                 --philips.
      1913 webster

   7. engin. strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts
      together, or stiffen them.
      1913 webster

   stay bolt mech., a bolt or short rod, connecting opposite
      plates, so as to prevent them from being bulged out when
      acted upon by a pressure which tends to force them apart,
      as in the leg of a steam boiler.

   stay busk, a stiff piece of wood, steel, or whalebone, for
      the front support of a woman's stays. cf. busk.

   stay rod, a rod which acts as a stay, particularly in a
      steam boiler.
      1913 webster
see also:
stay bolt stay busk busk stay rod 

Stay Bolt >> S Words
Stay Bolt, definition of term: Stay Bolt
stay+bolt_pag1.html

Stay >> S Words
Stay, definition of term: Stay
stay_pag1.html

Bolt >> B Words
Bolt, definition of term: Bolt
bolt_pag1.html

Stay Put >> S Words
Stay Put, definition of term: Stay Put
stay+put_pag1.html

Stay Up >> S Words
Stay Up, definition of term: Stay Up
stay+up_pag1.html

Stay Overnight >> S Words
Stay Overnight, definition of term: Stay Overnight
stay+overnight_pag1.html

Carriage Bolt >> C Words
Carriage Bolt, definition of term: Carriage Bolt
carriage+bolt_pag1.html

Machine Bolt >> M Words
Machine Bolt, definition of term: Machine Bolt
machine+bolt_pag1.html

Bolt And Nut >> B Words
Bolt And Nut, definition of term: Bolt And Nut
bolt+and+nut_pag1.html

Nut And Bolt >> N Words
Nut And Bolt, definition of term: Nut And Bolt
nut+and+bolt_pag1.html