Etymology From Middle English stagge, steg, from Old English stagga, stacga (“a stag”) and possibly Old Norse steggi, steggr (“a male animal”), both from Proto-Germanic *staggijô, *staggijaz (“male, male deer, porcupine”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *stegʰ-, *stengʰ- (“to sting; rod, blade; sharp, stiff”). Doublet of steg (“gander”). Cognate with Icelandic steggi, steggur (“tomcat, male fox”). Related to staggard, staggon.
An adult male deer, especially a red deer and especially one in high adulthood versus a young adult.
The city recently carried out a deer census, determining there are 313 stags (males), 798 does (females) and 214 fawns (babies) in Nara Park.2024 July 23, Lilit Marcus, “Japan may be sick of mass tourism. But the deer in this ancient UNESCO-listed city love it”, in CNN:
An improperly or late castrated bull or ram – also called a bull seg (see note under ox).
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Business, Finance An outside irregular dealer in stocks, who is not a member of the exchange.
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Business, Finance One who applies for the allotment of shares in new projects, with a view to sell immediately at a premium, and not to hold the stock.
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Usually An unmarried man; a bachelor; a man not accompanying a woman at a social event.
a stag dance; a stag party; a stag bar
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A social event for men held in honor of a groom on the eve of his wedding, attended by male friends of the groom; sometimes a fundraiser.
We had two disturbers of the harmony of the ship; I mean two stags or informers, one named Robert Wilson, the other John Hewit, from the north of Ireland.1838, [Joseph Holt], edited by T. Crofton Croker, Memoirs of Joseph Holt, General of the Irish Rebels, in 1798, volume II, London: Henry Colburn, page 52:
Between shifts on stag or manning the radio, we grabbed a few hours sleep.2000, Richard Tomlinson, The big breach: from top secret to maximum security, page 31:
Three days were spent on standby or patrols and a fourth day on guard, with at least eight hours on stag.2012, Max Benitz, Six Months Without Sundays: The Scots Guards in Afghanistan:
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A stag beetle (family Lucanidae).
Members of the genus Pasimachus […] can be confused with stag beetles […] but stags have elbowed antennae.2007, Eric R. Eaton, Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, page 132:
Etymology From Middle English stagge, steg, from Old English stagga, stacga (“a stag”) and possibly Old Norse steggi, steggr (“a male animal”), both from Proto-Germanic *staggijô, *staggijaz (“male, male deer, porcupine”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *stegʰ-, *stengʰ- (“to sting; rod, blade; sharp, stiff”). Doublet of steg (“gander”). Cognate with Icelandic steggi, steggur (“tomcat, male fox”). Related to staggard, staggon.
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UK To act as a "stag", an irregular dealer in stocks.
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To watch; to dog, or keep track of.
stag
adv
Etymology From Middle English stagge, steg, from Old English stagga, stacga (“a stag”) and possibly Old Norse steggi, steggr (“a male animal”), both from Proto-Germanic *staggijô, *staggijaz (“male, male deer, porcupine”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *stegʰ-, *stengʰ- (“to sting; rod, blade; sharp, stiff”). Doublet of steg (“gander”). Cognate with Icelandic steggi, steggur (“tomcat, male fox”). Related to staggard, staggon.
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Of a man, attending a formal social function without a date.
My brother went stag to prom because he couldn't find a date.