a. Forms: (5 stawnche, staunche), 6–7 stanche, 6 stantche), 5– stanch, 7– staunch. [a. OF. estanche fem. of estanc (mod.F. étanche of both genders) corresp. to Sp. estanco, Pg. estanque water-tight, It. stanco exhausted, weary, f. Com. Rom. *stancare: see STANCH v.
The spelling staunch and the associated pronunciation are in British use much the more common for the adj., while for the related verb the form STANCH is preferred.]
1. Impervious to water, not leaking; water-tight. Also occas. air-tight.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 652. Þe schip … was so stawnche it myȝt no water lade.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 305. In bechen baskettis men saue also This fruyt, so they (with cley) be staunche ywrie.
1531. Charterparty, in R. G. Marsden, Sel. Pl. Crt. Adm. (1894), 37. The sayd owner shall warrant the sayd shypp stronge stanche well and sufficientlye vitalled.
1569. Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1905–6), I. 57. The seastron in gossling Lane … is not stantche for that the water breaketh oute.
1633. T. James, Voy., 7. We sayed the pumps, and found her stanch.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., xv. 102. What we endeavored in vaine, may be performed by … some other Virtuoso that shall have stancher Vessells then we had. Ibid. (1667), in Phil. Trans., II. 584. We found all had not continued so stanch, but that some small portion of Air had insinuated it self into the Receiver.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. i. Our Ship was staunch, and our Crew all in good Health.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 46. Our Coffer-dam … which we began to despair of ever getting made even tolerably stanch.
1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., II. xxix. 296. The Mariane, a stanch but antiquated little barque.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. III. 82. Crossing the deep in thy stanch ships.
† b. fig. (Cf. the phrase to hold water.)
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. ii. 117. Yet if I knew, What Hoope should hold vs staunch[,] from edge to edge Ath’ world I would persue it.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 100. Which [interpretation] cannot hold stanch possibly, as in termes it is proposed by him.
† 2. Of blood: Not flowing out. Obs. rare.
1673. Phil. Trans., VIII. 6052. The pledgets being then thrown off, the blood continued staunch, and the mouths of the Arteries remained close.
3. Of strong or firm construction, in good or firm condition, substantial.
1455–6. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), I. 290. The sayd Jhon shall repeyre sayd towyr … and so to kepe hite up styf and stanch duryng the terme forsayde.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 64. Doubtles a stanch and solid peece of framework, as any January could freeze together.
1692. Ray, Discourses, I. ii. (1693), 19. The foresaid new-raised Mountain … hath stood firm and staunch, without the least sinking or subsidency, for above an hundred and fifty years.
a. 1706. Evelyn, Diary, 23 July 1679. The house a stanch good old building. Ibid. One of the closetts is parquetted with plaine deale, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 357. ’Gainst whom is shivered the staunchest brand.
1870. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-Bks. (1879), II. 36. The wall of the tower is still stanch and strong.
† 4. Restrained in behavior, guarded, reserved.
[1623: see STAUNCHNESS.]
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1687), I. xiii. 186. Commonly such as are greatly staunch in other enjoyments of pleasure, are enormously intemperate in speaking, and very incontinent of their Tongue. Ibid., I. xxi. 296. It is good to be very staunch and cautious of talking about other men and their concernments.
† b. quasi-adv. ? Strictly. Obs.
1693. Locke, Educ., § 107 (1699), 186. This is to be kept very stanch, and carefully to be watched.
5. Of a sporting dog: That may be trusted to find or follow the scent, or to mark the game; dependable.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, xl. (1908), 112. Vntill they haue rowzed or founde him againe with their bloudhounde, or with some other stanche old hounde of the kenell.
1616. Bullokar, Stanchhound, an old hound well experienced.
1668. Davenant, Rivals, IV. The Dogs … by that silence soon their fault confess’d, Most of e’m were Stanch-Hounds.
1677. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat. (ed. 2), 110. Let such as you cast off at first be old staunch-Hounds, which are sure.
1735. Somerville, Chase, IV. 125. With these consort The stanch and steddy Sages of thy Pack.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. vii. For, scarce a spear’s length from his haunch, Vindictive toil’d the bloodhounds stanch.
1842. J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 151. Two excellent double-barrelled guns, and three staunch pointers.
1883. A. M. Mayer, in Century Mag., Aug., 491/1. A dog that with head well up winds his birds and is stanch on a covey … is a dog indeed.
transf. 1686. Blome, Gentl. Recreat., II. 29. Old staunch Hawks should have more rest.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 290. Our half-breeds displayed that quickness of eye, in following up a track, for which Indians are so noted. Beatte, especially, was staunch as a veteran hound.
6. Of a person: Standing firm and true to one’s principles or purpose, not to be turned aside, determined.
1623. Massinger, Bondman, I. iii. Yet, tho’ he obserue, and waste his state vpon vs, If he be stanch and bid not for the stocke That we were borne to traffick with; the truth is We care not for his company.
1678. Dryden, All for Love, III. i. O, he’s the coolest Murderer, so stanch, He kills, and keeps his temper.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), s.v., So a man of Credit and Reputation, and well to pass in the World, is usually called a Stanch-man.
1689. Prior, Ep. Fleetwood Shephard, 133. In Politicks, I hear, you’r stanch.
1710. Hearne, Collect., 24 Feb. (O.H.S.), II. 348. He is a stanch Whigg.
1742. Blair, Grave, 364. The Foe, Like a stanch Murth’rer steady to his Purpose, Pursues her close through ev’ry Lane of Life.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 492. And you are staunch indeed in learning’s cause.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. vii. (1848), 143. He was stanch, however, to church and king.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), 11. My tried staunch friend, Sir Matthew Chase.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, vi. You, who from a girl have had a strong mind and a staunch heart.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. x. 182. The toil … began … to wear down the strength if not the spirit of the stanchest.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xv. 249. Those who ought to have been staunch have fallen away.
b. Of personal qualities, actions, etc.: Showing determination or resolution, unwavering.
1690. R. Lucas, Humane Life, 239. Riper years … should bring on naturally wiser and stancher thoughts.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., vii. The vengeance they had prosecuted with such stanch and sagacious activity. Ibid. (1823), Q. Durward, xxxvii. De la Marck might have effected his escape … but for the stanch pursuit of Quentin.
1883. A. Forbes, in 19th Cent., Oct., 720. Their devotion to their sovereign is staunch.
7. Comb., as staunch-hearted adj.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, iii. There ain’t a stauncher-hearted gal.
Hence Staunchly, Stanchly adv.; Staunchness, Stanchness.
1825. Cobbett, Rur. Rides, 291. I had him a puppy, and he never had any breaking, but he pointed staunchly at once.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xx. There never was a man who stood by a friend more staunchly than the Major.
1862. Thornbury, Turner, II. 142. The terms once made, he was true, undeviating, and stanchly honest.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 252. She must have been staunchly built.
1623. Conway, in Hacket’s Life Abp. Williams (1693), I. 157. His Majesty would not that you should press him for a Note of his Hand for Secresie and Stanchness.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. i. 3. Having once, to try the stanchnesse of the viol, blown in so much Air … that [etc.].
1703. S. Parker, trans. Cicero’s De Finibus, I. 11. As to the Truth and Stanchness of his Affections I cannot suppose you’ll pretend to dispute it.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 46. We made the first Trial of our Coller-dam … and proved its Stanchness several Times.
1826. in Sheridaniana, 308. The extraordinary staunchness of a cross-bred setter.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iv. (1875), 165. The stanchness which the religious aspirant needs.
