Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Nearby Entries
stow away - 3 dictionary results
Stow Away at Amazon
Low Prices on Stow away Free Shipping Available. Buy Today!
Amazon.com/sports
Dictionary.com Free Toolbar
Define Stow away Instantly. Faster Page Loads With Fewer Ads.
Dictionary.com

stow

  [stoh] ,
Use stow away in a Sentence
–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. Slang. to stop; break off: Stow it! Stow the talk!
6. to put away, as in a safe or convenient place (often fol. by away).
7. to lodge or quarter.
—Verb phrase
8. stow away, to conceal oneself aboard a ship or other conveyance in order to obtain free transportation or to elude pursuers.
Origin:
1300–50; ME stowen, OE stōwigan to keep, hold back (lit., to place), deriv. of stōw place; akin to ON eldstō fireplace, Goth stojan to judge (lit., to place)

Related forms:
stow⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To stow away
stow   (stō)   
tr.v.   stowed, stow·ing, stows
    1. To place or arrange, especially in a neat, compact way: stowed his gear in the footlocker.
    2. To fill (a place or container) by packing tightly.
  2. To store for future use: stowed carrots and potatoes in the root cellar.
  3. Slang To refrain from; stop.
  4. To provide lodging for; quarter.
Phrasal Verb(s):
stow away
  1. To hide oneself aboard a conveyance in order to obtain free transportation.
  2. Informal To consume (food or drink) greedily.

[Middle English stowen, from stowe, place, from Old English stōw; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
stow'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

stow away

  1. Put aside or store something until needed, as in We generally stow away the lawn furniture in the toolshed. [Late 1700s]

  2. Hide oneself aboard ship or in a vehicle in order to get free transportation, as in The youngsters planned to stow away on a freighter but they never even got to the waterfront. This usage gave rise to the noun stowaway. [Mid-1800s]

  3. Greedily consume food or drink, as in Bob sure can stow away a lot in a short time. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : stow away
Spanish: viajar de polizón,
German: sich als blinder Passagier verstecken,
Japanese: 密航する
More Translations »
Search another word or see stow away on Thesaurus | Reference
Stow Away at Amazon
Low Prices on Stow away Free Shipping Available. Buy Today!
Amazon.com/sports