[f. STATION sb. Cf. F. stationner (1606 in Hatz.-Darm.), Pg. estacionar.]
1. trans. To assign a post, position or station to (a person, troops, ships, etc.); to place or post (a sentinel, etc.) in a station.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., xxix. I was not a whit more exposed than those who were stationed about me.
1760. Inform. Dk. Gordon v. Earls Murray & Fife, 11. The bay which the river forms at its mouth in which ships are stationed.
a. 1781. Watson, Philip III. (1839), 91. Some companies of Scotch troops, which had been stationed in Cadsant.
1786. Burns, Tam Samson, iv. Wha will they [the Curlers] station at the cock, Tam Samson’s dead?
1809. Lond. Chron., 29 July, 101/2. Some sheep, which he had stationed upon a very deep declivity near the rocks.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xvii. Upon knocking gently at the gate, a brother, considerately stationed for that purpose by the Prior, opened it.
1842. Ld. Aberdeen, in Excheq. Rep., II. 182. The laudable practice of stationing cruisers off slave-factory stations.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 142. The troops stationed near London.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Stationing a Ship’s Company, arranging the crew for the ready execution of the evolutionary duties of a ship.
1892. Bierce, In Midst of Life, 108. Before stationing his men the young officer … had [etc.].
1903. Union Mag., Jan., 16/1. He was at that time ‘stationed’ in the Brixton Hill circuit in London.
transf. 1837. Lytton, E. Maltravers, I. i. He kept his eyes stationed on the door.
b. To place in a certain position in a list.
1865. Nat. Hist. Rev., 313. At the head of the order Dr. Günther stations the Typhlopidæ, Tortricidæ, [etc.].
c. refl. To take up one’s station, post oneself. Also in passive with reflexive notion. Said occas. of a thing.
1780. Mirror, No. 103. There is a … merry-looking dog of a sailor … stationed at the corner of the street where I live.
1826. F. Reynolds, Life & Times, II. 56. Stationing himself at the side,… he said, ‘There!’
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 343. According to the motions which the object makes the image touches it or stations itself by its side.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. viii. Lady Vargrave was stationed by the open window.
1889. W. Lockhart, Ch. Scot. in 13th Cent., vii. 79. The bishop stationed himself at the left corner of the church towards the east.
d. In passive, of a plant: To have a certain station or position of growth.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 323. Such species as have their barren and fertile flowers on distinct plants, do not perfect their fruit except where individuals of both sorts are stationed in the vicinity of one another.
2. Shipbuilding. To determine the proper position for (timbers).
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 406/2. In stationing the timbers upon the keel for a boat, there must [etc.].
1869. Sir E. Reed, Shipbuild., viii. 148. There was no necessity for stationing every beam at a frame.
