DCHP-1 Online

stake (off)

• 1a v. Mining mark or indicate the boundaries of (a claim) with stakes.

  See also: staking (def. 2)  

  • 1860  . . . the flats . . . are all staked off, and claims are changing hands at very high prices. . . .
  • 1913  The three claims were staked out before you came into the country.
  • 1955  The Company staked 110 claims (4400 acres) in the area. . . .

• 1b v. Lumbering lay claim to a timber berth by marking out its boundaries with stakes prior to registering the claim.

  • 1908  Now Billy Hewlitt was a "timber-cruiser"--a man who sought for forest timber, to stake it. . . .

• 2 v. provide with a grubstake.

  See also: grubstake ((v.)) (def. 1c)  

  • 1919  . . . I'll get Jeanette to stake me to a couple of days' grub. . . .
  • 1960  About one in ten is a boomer, seldom staying in a town longer than was required to stake himself for a move to the town beyond.