\Stale\, n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. st[ae]l, stel; akin to
LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem,
Gr. ? a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.]
The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake.
[Written also {steal}, {stele}, etc.]
      But seeling the arrow's stale without, and that the
      head did go No further than it might be seen.
                                               --Chapman.

\Stale\, a. [Akin to stale urine, and to stall, n.;
probably from Low German or Scandinavian. Cf. {Stale}, v. i.]
1. Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit,
   and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer.
2. Not new; not freshly made; as, stele bread.
3. Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out;
   decayed. ``A stale virgin.'' --Spectator.
4. Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty
   and power of pleasing; trite; common. --Swift.
         Wit itself, if stale is less pleasing. --Grew.
         How weary, stale flat, and unprofitable Seem to me
         all the uses of this world!           --Shak.
{Stale affidavit} (Law), an affidavit held above a year.
   --Craig.
{Stale demand} (Law), a claim or demand which has not been
   pressed or demanded for a long time.

\Stale\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Staled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Staling}.]
To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or
use of; to wear out.
      Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite
      variety.                                 --Shak.

\Stale\, v. i. [Akin to D. & G. stallen, Dan. stalle, Sw.
stalla, and E. stall a stable. ? 163. See {Stall}, n., and
cf. {Stale}, a.]
To make water; to discharge urine; -- said especially of
horses and cattle. --Hudibras.

\Stale\, n. [See {Stale}, a. & v. i.]
1. That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by
   use. [Obs.]
2. A prostitute. [Obs.] --Shak.
3. Urine, esp. that of beasts. ``Stale of horses.'' --Shak.

\Stale\, n. [Cf. OF. estal place, position, abode, market,
F. ['e]tal a butcher's stall, OHG. stal station, place,
stable, G. stall (see {Stall}, n.); or from OE. stale theft,
AS. stalu (see {Steal}, v. t.)]
1. Something set, or offered to view, as an allurement to
   draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool
   pigeon. [Obs.]
         Still, as he went, he crafty stales did lay.
                                               --Spenser.
2. A stalking-horse. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
3. (Chess) A stalemate. [Obs.] --Bacon.
4. A laughingstock; a dupe. [Obs.] --Shak.