I. ˈstī noun
( plural sties also styes )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stig pen; pigpen; akin to Old Norse svīn sti pigpen
Date: before 12th century
: pigpen
II. verb
( stied or styed ; sty·ing )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
: to lodge or keep in a sty
intransitive verb
: to live in a sty
III. noun
or stye ˈstī
( plural sties or styes )
Etymology: short for obsolete English styan, from Middle English styan ye eye with a sty, from Old English stīgend sty, from stīgan to go up, rise — more at stair
Date: 1617
: an inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland at the margin of an eyelid