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.
[stoh] 
,