1. (n.) A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays.

2. (v. i.) To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.

3. (v. i.) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.

4. (v. i.) To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.

5. (v. i.) To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.

6. (v. i.) To hinder/; to delay; to detain; to keep back.

7. (v. i.) To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.

8. (v. i.) To cause to cease; to put an end to.

9. (v. i.) To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.

10. (v. i.) To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.

11. (v. i.) To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.

12. (v. i.) To continue in a state.

13. (v. i.) To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.

14. (v. i.) To dwell; to tarry; to linger.

15. (v. i.) To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.

16. (v. i.) To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed.

17. (v. i.) To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well.

18. (v. i.) To change tack; as a ship.

19. (n.) That which serves as a prop; a support.

20. (n.) A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.

21. (n.) Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.

22. (n.) Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.

23. (n.) Hindrance; let; check.

24. (n.) Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.

25. (n.) Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.

abandon abeyance abide abort adhere adjourn advocate afford support afterthought agglomerate alpenstock amnesty anchor arm arrest arrestation athletic supporter await back back up backbone backing backpedal backwater bandeau bar be still bear bear up bearer bearing rein belay bell berth bide bide the issue billet at bind bit bivouac block block up blockade blockage bolster bolster up bottom bra brace bracer bracket brake brassiere break breath breather breathing place breathing space breathing spell breathing time bring to bring up short bunch bung bunk buoy up bureaucratic delay burrow buttress cable caesura camp cancel cane carrier carry carry on caulk cease cease not cease-fire cervix chain check checkmate checkrein chink chock choke choke off choke up cigarette break clasp cleave clinch cling cling to clip the wings clog clog up clot cluster coagulate coast cocktail hour coffee break cohabit cohere colonize column come to anchor confine congeal congest conglomerate constipate continue continue to be cork corselet corset countercheck cover cradle crook crutch curb curb bit cushion cut it out cut short cutoff dally dam dam up damper dawdle day off dead stop deadlock debarment decelerate defeat time defer deferment deferral defy time delay delayage delayed reaction desist detain detention deter determent deterrence dillydally discontinuance discontinuation discontinue discourage discouragement domesticate domicile domiciliate doorstop doss down double take downtime drag drag on drag out drag sail dragging draw rein drift anchor drift sail drogue drop drop anchor drop it dwell ease off ease up embrace end endgame ending endure enforced respite ensconce establish establish residence estoppel exemption exist extend fetter fill fill up final whistle foil forbiddance foreclosure forestalling forestay foul found foundation garment freeze freeze to fulcrum full stop gird girdle give over give support go along go on grasp grinding halt ground grow together gun guy guywire halt hamper hang hang about hang around hang fire hang on hang out hang together hang up hang-up happy hour have done with hesitation hinder hindrance hive hold hold back hold everything hold in check hold off hold on hold out hold over hold steady hold together hold up