stang
verbEtymology Inherited from Middle English stangen, from Old Norse stanga (“prick, goad”).
1
Scotland To shoot with pain, to sting.
2
Scotland To spear; to sting.
stang
nounUS, UK /ˈstæŋ/ · UK, SC, WA /ˈstaŋ/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English stang, stong, from Old Norse stǫng, from Proto-Germanic *stangiz, *stangō (“bar, rod”), from Proto-Indo-European *stengʰ-, *stegʰ- (“to stick, sting, prick, be stiff”).
- The stang represents the horned god and the masculine force of nature. Much like the wand or athame, the stang is used for raising or directing power[…]2006 January 7, Lady Sabrina, Exploring Wicca, Updated Edition, →ISBN, page 87:
- In more common (and private) Wiccan circles, the stang is replaced by the athame (black handled knife) and the cauldron replaced with the chalice but its^([sic]) pretty much /whatever works for you/.2009 June 22, Yowie, “Sikh Quaker?”, in soc.religion.quaker:
1 more example
- These stangs can be used as natural altars in outdoor rituals or simply as walking staffs.2014 January 8, Ann Moura, Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft, →ISBN, page 7:
- Gripping the stang, she peered / At ghostly trees. Bus stopped. Bus disappeared.1962, Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire:
3
Historical, Obsolete In land measure, a pole, rod, or perch.
- These fields were intermingled with woods of half a stang,*... (with the corresponding footnote: "An old word for a perch, sixteen feet and a half. These small woods were therefore eight feet and a quarter.")1880, Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels into several Remote Nations of the World - Part I, Chapter II (page 15)
- Derived terms
- ride the stang, stang ball