| 1. | firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend. |
| 2. | characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He delivered a staunch defense of the government. |
| 3. | strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods. |
| 4. | impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel. |
staunch 1 (stônch, stänch) adj. staunch·er also stanch·er, staunch·est also stanch·est
[Middle English staunche, from Anglo-Norman estaunche, from estaunchier, to stanch, variant of Old French estanchier; see stanch1.] staunch'ly adv., staunch'ness n. Usage Note: Staunch is more common than stanch as the spelling of the adjective. Stanch is more common than staunch as the spelling of the verb. |