STALK

I. noun Etymology: Middle English ~e; akin to Old English stela ~, support Date: 14th century a slender upright object or supporting or connecting part, 2. the main stem of an herbaceous plant often with its dependent parts, a part of a plant (as a petiole or stipe) that supports another, ~ed adjective ~less adjective ~y adjective II. verb see: steal Date: 14th century intransitive verb to pursue quarry or prey stealthily, to walk stiffly or haughtily, transitive verb to pursue by ~ing, to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry , to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment, ~er noun III. noun Date: 14th century the act of ~ing, a ~ing gait