v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stanched p. pr. & vb. n. Stanching. ] [ OF. estanchier, F. étancher to stop a liquid from flowing; akin to Pr., Sp., & Pg. estancar, It. stancare to weary, LL. stancare, stagnare, to stanch, fr. L. stagnare to be or make stagnant. See Stagnate. ] 1. To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound. [ Written also staunch. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Iron or a stone laid to the neck doth stanch the bleeding of the nose. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To cease, as the flowing of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Immediately her issue of blood stanched. Luke viii. 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which stanches or checks. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Stancher superl. Stanchest. ] [ From Stanch, v. t., and hence literally signifying, stopped or stayed; cf. Sp. estanco stopped, tight, not leaky, as a ship. See Stanch, v. t. ] [ Written also staunch. ] 1. Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

One of the closets is parqueted with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent. V. Knox. [ 1913 Webster ]

In politics I hear you 're stanch. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Close; secret; private. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This is to be kept stanch. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To prop; to make stanch, or strong. [ 1913 Webster ]

His gathered sticks to stanch the wall
Of the snow tower when snow should fall. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A stanchion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, stanches, or stops, the flowing, as of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. estanson, estançon, F. étançon, from OF. estance a stay, a prop, from L. stans, stantis, standing, p. pr. of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Stanza. ] [ Written also stanchel. ] 1. (Arch.) A prop or support; a piece of timber in the form of a stake or post, used for a support or stay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) Any upright post or beam used as a support, as for the deck, the quarter rails, awnings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A vertical bar for confining cattle in a stall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Incapable of being stanched, or stopped. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unquenchable; insatiable. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a stanch manner. [ 1913 Webster ]