1. adj. & v.
--adj. (staler, stalest)
1. a not fresh, not quite new (stale bread is best for toast). b musty, insipid, or otherwise the worse for age or use.
2 trite or unoriginal (a stale joke; stale news).
3 (of an athlete or other performer) having ability impaired by excessive exertion or practice.
4 Law (esp. of a claim) having been left dormant for an unreasonably long time.
--v.tr. & intr. make or become stale.
Derivatives:
stalely adv. staleness n.
Etymology: ME, prob. f. AF & OF f. estaler halt: cf. STALL(1) 2. n. & v.
--n. the urine of horses and cattle.
--v.intr. (esp. of horses and cattle) urinate.
Etymology: ME, perh. f. OF estaler adopt a position (cf. STALE(1))