DCHP-1

stage ((adj.))

of furs, inferior by virtue of dark blue patches on the skin.
See also: stagey
- 1680 (1945-46) . . . the Men employed in Sorting the Beaver have found 302 Stage Skinns. . . .
- 1784 (1954) The Honourable Company have complyed with my proposal for altering the standard of Otters, and have accordingly ordered their prime Otters in future to be rated a 2 Beaver eac and the dammaged and Staged at one Beaver each.
- 1842 (1948) Mr. N. E. Beynes, Assistant Manager of the Fur Department of the Hudson's Bay Company, states that "A 'staged' or 'stagey' skin is one with dark blue patches on the pely (i.e. leather). The condition occurs when the animal is taken out of season, when, in the case of most animals, the fur and pelt are not at their best."
- 1859 St. Paul sent me a Staged Skin for Tea.
- 1933 . . . by the beginning of April the mink and marten skins are almost stage. They will bring less than half what they would have if caught in January.