STALE

stale. Stale, a. old, long kept, vapid, corrupt, stinking

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Stale (@stāl), n. [[OE. stale, stele, AS. stæl, stel; akin to LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem, Gr. στελεόν a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.]] The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake. [Written also steal, stele, etc.] But see@ing the arrow's stale without, and that the head did go No further than it might be seen. Chapman.