stow

Meanings

Noun

• A place, stead.

Verb

• To put something away in a compact and tidy manner, in its proper place, or in a suitable place.
• To store or pack something in a space-saving manner and over a long time.
• To arrange, pack, or fill something tightly or closely.
• To dispose, lodge, or hide somebody somewhere.

Origin

• From Middle English stowe, from Old English stōw ("place"), from Proto-Germanic *stōwō ("a place, stowage"), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ("to stand, place, put"). Cognate with Old Frisian stō ("place"), Icelandic stó ("fireplace"), Dutch stouw ("place"). See also -stow.
• From Middle English stowen, stawen, stewen, from Old English stōwian ("to hold back, restrain"), from Proto-Germanic *stōwōną, *stōwijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ("to stand, place"). Cognate with Dutch stuwen, stouwen, Low German stauen ("to blin, halt, hinder"), German stauen ("to halt, hem in, stow, pack").