stock

I. noun Etymology: Middle English stok, from Old English stocc; akin to Old High German stoc stick Date: before 12th century 1. a. archaic stump b. archaic a log or block of wood c. (1) archaic something without life or consciousness (2) a dull, stupid, or lifeless person 2. a supporting framework or structure: as a. plural the frame or timbers holding a ship during construction b. plural a device for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the feet or feet and hands can be locked c. (1) the wooden part by which a shoulder arm is held during firing (2) the butt of an implement (as a whip or fishing rod) (3) bitstock, brace d. a long beam on a field gun forming the third support point in firing 3. a. the main stem of a plant ; trunk b. (1) a plant or plant part united with a scion in grafting and supplying mostly underground parts to a graft (2) a plant from which slips or cuttings are taken 4. the crosspiece of an anchor — see anchor illustration 5. a. the original (as a person, race, or language) from which others derive ; source b. (1) the descendants of one individual ; family, lineage <

of European stock

> (2) a compound organism c. an infraspecific group usually having unity of descent d. (1) a related group of languages (2) a language family 6. a. (1) the equipment, materials, or supplies of an establishment (2) livestock b. a store or supply accumulated or available; especially the inventory of goods of a merchant or manufacturer 7. a. archaic a supply of capital ; funds; especially money or capital invested or available for investment or trading b. (1) the part of a tally formerly given to the creditor in a transaction (2) a debt or fund due (as from a government) for money loaned at interest; also British capital or a debt or fund bearing interest in perpetuity and not ordinarily redeemable as to principal c. (1) the proprietorship element in a corporation usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates (2) a portion of such stock of one or more companies (3) stock certificate 8. any of a genus (Matthiola) of Old World herbs or subshrubs of the mustard family with racemes of usually sweet-scented flowers 9. a wide band or scarf worn about the neck especially by some clergymen 10. a. liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered that is used as a basis for soup, gravy, or sauce b. (1) raw material from which something is manufactured (2) paper used for printing c. the portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of a game 11. a. (1) an estimate or evaluation of something <

take stock of the situation

> (2) the estimation in which someone or something is held <

his stock with the electorate remains high — Newsweek

> b. confidence or faith placed in someone or something <

put little stock in his testimony

> 12. the production and presentation of plays by a stock company 13. stock car 1 II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to make (a domestic animal) pregnant 2. to fit to or with a stock 3. to provide with stock or a stock ; supply <

stock a stream with trout

> 4. to procure or keep a stock of <

our store stocks that brand

> 5. to graze (livestock) on land intransitive verb 1. to send out new shoots 2. to put in stock or supplies <

stock up on canned goods

> III. adjective Date: 1625 1. a. kept regularly in stock <

comes in stock sizes

> <

a stock model

> b. commonly used or brought forward ; standard <

the stock answer

> 2. a. kept for breeding purposes ; brood <

a stock mare

> b. devoted to the breeding and rearing of livestock <

a stock farm

> c. used or intended for livestock <

a stock train

> d. used in herding livestock <

a stock horse

> <

a stock dog

> 3. of or relating to a stock company 4. employed in handling, checking, or taking care of the stock of merchandise on hand <

a stock clerk

>