overstock

[verb oh-ver-stok; noun oh-ver-stok]

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verb (used with object)

to stock to excess: We are overstocked on this item.

noun

a stock that is larger than the actual need or demand.

Origin of overstock

First recorded in 1555–65; over- + stock

stocking

[stok-ing]

noun

a close-fitting covering for the foot and part of the leg, usually knitted, of wool, cotton, nylon, silk, or similar material.

something resembling such a covering.

Origin of stocking

First recorded in 1575–85; stock + -ing¹

Related formsstock·inged, adjectivestock·ing·less, adjectivehalf-stock·ing, nouno·ver·stock·ing, nounun·stock·inged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for overstocking

load, clog, surfeit, overwhelm, jade, pall, cloy, fill, hog, overload, flood, sate, cram, satiate, congest, devour, burden, gorge, overstock, inundate

Examples from the Web for overstocking

Historical Examples of overstocking

You should, also, avoid the too common error of overstocking with sheep when the price of wool is high.
Address delivered by Hon. Henry H. Crapo, Governor of Michigan, before the Central Michigan Agricultural Society, at their Sheep-shearing Exhibition held at the Agricultural College Farm, on Thursday, May 24th, 1866
Henry Howland Crapo
The absorbing issues before the convention were the Texas fever and the overstocking of the range.
Roosevelt in the Bad Lands
H. Hagedorn.
In Derby and Nottingham apparent understocking becomes the exception and overstocking the rule.
Domesday Book and Beyond
Frederic William Maitland
The overstocking of the labor market has become a menace to many trade-unions, especially those of the lesser skilled workers.
Races and Immigrants in America
John R. Commons
I say it all comes from your overstocking and returning hooked fish to the water.
Lines in Pleasant Places
William Senior

British Dictionary definitions for overstocking

overstock

verb (tr)

to hold or supply (a commodity) in excess of requirements

to run more farm animals on (a piece of land) than it is capable of maintaining

stocking

noun

one of a pair of close-fitting garments made of knitted yarn to cover the foot and part or all of the leg

something resembling this in position, function, appearance, etc

in one's stocking feet or in one's stockinged feet wearing stockings or socks but no shoes

Word Origin for stocking

C16: from dialect stock stocking + -ing 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for overstocking

overstock

1640s, from over- + stock (v.). Related: Overstocked; overstocking. The noun is attested from 1710.

stocking

"close-fitting garment covering the foot and leg," 1580s, from stocka "leg covering, stock," from Old English stocu "sleeve," related to Old English stocc "trunk, log" (see stock (n.1)). Probably so called because of a fancied resemblance of legs to tree trunks, or a reference to the punishing stocks. Cognates include Old Norse stuka, Old High German stuhha, from the same Proto-Germanic source. Restriction to women's hose is 20c. As a receptacle for Christmas presents, attested from 1853; hence stocking stuffer first recorded 1976.