verb (used with object)
1.
Nautical.
a.
to put (cargo, provisions, etc.) in the places intended for them.
b.
to put (sails, spars, gear, etc.) in the proper place or condition when not in use.
2.
to put in a place or receptacle, as for storage or reserve; pack: He stowed the potatoes in our cellar.
3.
to fill (a place or receptacle) by packing: to stow a carton with books.
4.
to have or afford room for; hold.
5.
8.
stow away, to conceal oneself aboard a ship or other conveyance in order to obtain free transportation or to elude pursuers.
00:10
Stow
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English stowen, Old English stōwigan to keep, hold back (literally, to place), derivative of stōw place; akin to Old Norse eldstō fireplace, Gothic stojan to judge (literally, to place)
1300–50; Middle English stowen, Old English stōwigan to keep, hold back (literally, to place), derivative of stōw place; akin to Old Norse eldstō fireplace, Gothic stojan to judge (literally, to place)
Related forms
stow·a·ble, adjective
re·stow, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To stow
Collins
World English Dictionary
stow (stəʊ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | ( |
| 2. | to fill by packing |
| 3. | nautical to pack or put away (cargo, sails and other gear, etc) |
| 4. | to have enough room for |
| 5. | slang (Brit) (usually imperative) to cease from: stow your noise!; stow it! |
| [Old English stōwian to keep, hold back, from stōw a place; related to Old High German stouwen to accuse, Gothic stōjan to judge, Old Slavonic staviti to place] | |
| Stow (stəʊ) | |
| —n | |
| John. 1525--1605, English antiquary, noted for his Survey of London and Westminster (1598; 1603) | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
stow
c.1300, verb use of O.E. noun stow "a place" (common in place names) from P.Gmc. *stowijanan (cf. O.Fris. sto "place," M.L.G., M.Du., Du. stouwen "to stow," O.H.G. stouwen "to stop, check," Ger. stauen "to stow"), from PIE *stau-, from base *sta- "to stand" (cf. O.C.S. stavljo "to place," Lith. stoviu
"to stand;" see stet). The nautical sense of "put away to be stored, pack" (1555) was enforced by Du. stouwen "to cram, pack up close." Phrase stow away "conceal" is first found 1795; the noun stowaway is from 1850.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
They even contain a compartment where travelers can stow printed itineraries or receipts.
Never stow anything in the truck if you can tie it on the roof.
The controls and display pop up from the high-design main unit, and click back down to stow out of sight.
The case is small and easy to stow, so you can take it anywhere and clamp it to practically any paper notebook or sketch pad.
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