staunch

stanch or staunch (stɑːntʃ, stɔːntʃ)

—vb
1.	to stem the flow of (a liquid, esp blood) or (of a liquid) to stop flowing
2.	to prevent the flow of a liquid, esp blood, from (a hole, wound, etc)
3.	an archaic word for assuage

—n
4.	a primitive form of lock in which boats are carried over shallow parts of a river in a rush of water released by the lock

[C14: from Old French estanchier, from Vulgar Latin stanticāre (unattested) to cause to stand, from Latin stāre to stand, halt]

staunch or staunch

—vb

—n

[C14: from Old French estanchier, from Vulgar Latin stanticāre (unattested) to cause to stand, from Latin stāre to stand, halt]

'stanchable or staunch

—*adj*

'staunchable or staunch

—*adj*

'stancher or staunch

—n

'stauncher or staunch

—n

staunch¹ (stɔːntʃ)

—*adj*
1.	loyal, firm, and dependable: a staunch supporter
2.	solid or substantial in construction
3.	rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy

[C15: (originally: watertight): from Old French estanche, from estanchier to stanch]

'staunchly¹

—*adv*

'staunchness¹

—n

staunch² (stɔːntʃ)

—vb, —n
	a variant spelling of stanch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

staunch

1412, "impervious to water," from O.Fr. estanche "firm, watertight," fem. of estanc "dried, exhausted, wearied, vanquished," from V.L. *stanticare, probably from L. stans (gen. stantis), prp. of stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sense of "strong,

substantial" first recorded 1455; of persons, "standing firm and true to one's principles" from 1623.

Example sentences

Things change with more information, and the medical profession has changed

it's staunch viewpoints time and time again.

He has earned a reputation both as a staunch advocate for consumer protection

and as a fair and balanced regulator.

With so many meals in one place, the colony seems easy prey, but it has staunch

defenders.

There were lots of reasons for the reversal, but certainly staunch opposition

from the energy industry played a significant role.

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Related Words

steadfast constant faithful firm stable

stable standby stout true

Matching Quote

"The rage for road building is beneficent for America, where vast distance is so main a consideration in our domestic politics and trade, inasmuch as the great political promise of the invention is to hold the Union staunch, whose days already seem numbered by the mere inconvenience of transporting representatives, judges and officers across such tedious distances of land and water."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson