stag

[stag]

noun

1. an adult male deer.

2. a man who attends a social gathering unaccompanied by a woman.

3. Informal.,  stag party.

4. a domesticated boar or bull castrated after maturation of the sexual organs.

5. British.,  a speculator who buys securities of a new issue in the hope of selling them quickly at a higher price.

verb (used without object)

stagged, stagging 

1. Informal.,  (of a man) to attend a social function without a female companion.

adjective

1. of or for men only.

   a stag dinner.

2. intended for male audiences and usually pornographic in content.

   a stag show.

adverb

1. without a companion or date.

   to go stag to a dance.

stag

/ stæɡ /

noun

1. the adult male of a deer, esp a red deer

2. a man unaccompanied by a woman at a social gathering

3. stock exchange

   1. a speculator who applies for shares in a new issue in anticipation of a rise in price when trading commences in order to make a quick profit on resale

   2. ( as modifier )

      stag operations

4. (modifier) (of a social gathering) attended by men only

5. (modifier) pornographic in content

   a stag show

adverb

1. without a female escort

verb

1. stock exchange to apply for (shares in a new issue) with the intention of selling them for a quick profit when trading commences

Other Word Forms

• staglike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stag¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English stagge; akin to Old Norse steggi, steggr “male bird” (giving rise to northern English dialect steg “gander”), Icelandic steggur “male fox, tomcat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of stag¹

Old English stagga (unattested); related to Old Norse steggr male bird

Idioms and Phrases

• go stag

Example Sentences

Hen and stag dos, like weddings and baby showers, are a chance to celebrate big milestones in our friends' lives.

From BBC

The stag's antlers, now fully hardened and velvet‑free, regrow each spring, becoming more impressive with each year as new points called tines develop.

From BBC

It was converted into a hotel in 1947 and hired out for birthday parties, weddings and stag parties, before being sold in 1999.

From BBC

The intricate tattoos of leopards, a stag, a rooster, and a mythical half-lion and half-eagle creature on the woman's body shed light on an ancient warrior culture.

From BBC

Mr Monks, from Cambuslang, near Glasgow, had travelled to the resort on 27 May on a stag party with friends.

From BBC

Related Words

• bash 
• celebration 
• dance 
• festivity 
• fiesta 
• function 
• jamboree 
• pageant 
• prom 
• shindig