catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Stave \Stave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Staved (st[=a]vd) or
     Stove (st[=o]v); p. pr. & vb. n. Staving.] [From Stave,
     n., or Staff, n.]
     1. To break in a stave or the staves of; to break a hole in;
        to burst; -- often with in; as, to stave a cask; to stave
        in a boat.
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     2. To push, as with a staff; -- with off.
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              The condition of a servant staves him off to a
              distance.                             --South.
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     3. To delay by force or craft; to drive away; -- usually with
        off; as, to stave off the execution of a project.
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              And answered with such craft as women use,
              Guilty or guiltless, to stave off a chance
              That breaks upon them perilously.     --Tennyson.
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     4. To suffer, or cause, to be lost by breaking the cask.
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              All the wine in the city has been staved. --Sandys.
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     5. To furnish with staves or rundles. --Knolles.
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     6. To render impervious or solid by driving with a calking
        iron; as, to stave lead, or the joints of pipes into which
        lead has been run.
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     To stave and tail, in bear baiting, (to stave) to interpose
        with the staff, doubtless to stop the bear; (to tail) to
        hold back the dog by the tail. --Nares.
        [1913 Webster]

  Stave \Stave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stavedor Stove; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Staving.] [From Stave, n., or Staff, n.]
     1. To break in a stave or the staves of; to break a hole in;
        to burst; -- often with in; as, to stave a cask; to stave
        in a boat.
  
     2. To push, as with a staff; -- with off.
  
              The condition of a servant staves him off to a
              distance.                             --South.
  
     3. To delay by force or craft; to drive away; -- usually with
        off; as, to stave off the execution of a project.
  
              And answered with such craft as women use, Guilty or
              guilties, to stave off a chance That breaks upon
              them perilously.                      --Tennyson.
  
     4. To suffer, or cause, to be lost by breaking the cask.
  
              All the wine in the city has been staved. --Sandys.
  
     5. To furnish with staves or rundles. --Knolles.
  
     6. To render impervious or solid by driving with a calking
        iron; as, to stave lead, or the joints of pipes into which
        lead has been run.
  
     To stave and tail, in bear baiting, (to stave) to interpose
        with the staff, doubtless to stop the bear; (to tail) to
        hold back the dog by the tail. --Nares.