v. t. (stȧnch)
[imp. & p. p. Stanched (stȧncht); p. pr. & vb. n. Stanching.]
[OF. estanchier, F. étancher to stop a liquid from flowing; akin to Pr., Sp., & Pg. estancar, It. stancare to weary, LL. stancare, stagnare, to stanch, fr. L. stagnare to be or make stagnant. See Stagnate.]
1. To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound. [Written also staunch.]
Iron or a stone laid to the neck doth stanch the bleeding of the nose.Bacon.
2. To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst. [Obs.]
Stanch
v. i.
To cease, as the flowing of blood.
Immediately her issue of blood stanched.Luke viii. 44.
Stanch
n.
1. That which stanches or checks. [Obs.]
2. A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release. Knight.
Stanch
a. (-ẽr)
[Compar. Stancher (-ẽr); superl. Stanchest.]
[From Stanch, v. t., and hence literally signifying, stopped or stayed; cf. Sp. estanco stopped, tight, not leaky, as a ship. See Stanch, v. t.]
[Written also staunch.]
1. Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship.
One of the closets is parqueted with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty.Evelyn.
2. Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent. V. Knox.
In politics I hear you 're stanch.Prior.
3. Close; secret; private. [Obs.]
This is to be kept stanch.Locke.
Stanch
v. t.
To prop; to make stanch, or strong.
His gathered sticks to stanch the wallEmerson.
Of the snow tower when snow should fall.
