stac

n. [ Icel. stakkr; akin to Sw. stack, Dan. stak. Cf. Stake. ] 1. A large and to some degree orderly pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, usually of a nearly conical form, but sometimes rectangular or oblong, contracted at the top to a point or ridge, and sometimes covered with thatch. [ 1913 Webster ]

But corn was housed, and beans were in the stack. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: An orderly pile of any type of object, indefinite in quantity; -- used especially of piles of wood. A stack is usually more orderly than a pile [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Against every pillar was a stack of billets above a man's height. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically: A pile of wood containing 108 cubic feet. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence: A large quantity; as, a stack of cash. [ Informal ] [ PJC ]

5. (Arch.) (a) A number of flues embodied in one structure, rising above the roof. Hence: (b) Any single insulated and prominent structure, or upright pipe, which affords a conduit for smoke; as, the brick smokestack of a factory; the smokestack of a steam vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Computer programming) (a) A section of memory in a computer used for temporary storage of data, in which the last datum stored is the first retrieved. (b) A data structure within random-access memory used to simulate a hardware stack; as, a push-down stack. [ PJC ]

7. pl. The section of a library containing shelves which hold books less frequently requested. [ PJC ]

Stack of arms (Mil.), a number of muskets or rifles set up together, with the bayonets crossing one another, forming a sort of conical self-supporting pile. --
to blow one's stacks to become very angry and lose one's self-control, and especially to display one's fury by shouting. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stacked p. pr. & vb. n. Stacking. ] [ Cf. Sw. stacka, Dan. stakke. See Stack, n. ] 1. To lay in a conical or other pile; to make into a large pile; as, to stack hay, cornstalks, or grain; to stack or place wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: To place in a vertical arrangement so that each item in a pile is resting on top of another item in the pile, except for the bottom item; as, to stack the papers neatly on the desk; to stack the bricks. [ PJC ]

3. To select or arrange dishonestly so as to achieve an unfair advantage; as, to stack a deck of cards; to stack a jury with persons prejudiced against the defendant. [ PJC ]

To stack arms (Mil.), to set up a number of muskets or rifles together, with the bayonets crossing one another, and forming a sort of conical pile. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Hay, grain, or the like, in stacks; things stacked. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tax on things stacked. [ R. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. estacade and E. stockade. ] (Mil.) A stockade. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A covering or protection, as of canvas, for a stack. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Stack. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stacking band,
Stacking belt, a band or rope used in binding thatch or straw upon a stack. --
Stacking stage, a stage used in building stacks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A staging for supporting a stack of hay or grain; a staddle{ 2 }; a rickstand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A yard or inclosure for stacks of hay or grain. A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]