View source for Stalk

==English==
{{wikipedia}}

===Pronunciation===
* {{enPR|stôk|a=RP}}, {{IPA|en|/stɔːk/}}
* {{enPR|stôk|a=GA}}, {{IPA|en|/stɔk/}}
* {{IPA|en|/stɑk/|a=cot-caught}}
* {{audio|en|En-us-ne-stalk.ogg|a=US}}
* {{audio|en|en-us-stalk.ogg|a=US,cot-caught}}
* {{homophones|en|stork<aa:non-rhotic>|;|stock<aa:cot-caught>}}
* {{rhymes|en|ɔːk|s=1}}

===Etymology 1===
{{root|en|ine-pro|*stel-}}
From {{inh|en|enm|stalke}}, {{m|enm|stelke}}, {{m|enm|stalk}}, perhaps from {{inh|en|ang|*stealc}}, {{m|ang|*stielc}}, {{m|ang|*stealuc}}, from {{inh|en|gmw-pro|*staluk}}, {{m|gmw-pro|*stalik}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*stalukaz}}, {{m|gem-pro|*stalikaz}}, diminutive of {{der|en|gem-pro|*stalô}}, {{m|gem-pro|*staluz|t=support, stem, stalk}}, from {{der|en|ine-pro|*stel-|t=to place, stand; be stiff; stud, post, trunk, stake, stem, stalk}}. Cognate with {{cog|goh|*stelh}} in {{m|goh|wazzarstelh|t=wagtail}}, {{cog|da|stilk|t=stalk, stem}}, {{cog|sv|stjälk|t=stalk, stem}}, {{cog|is|stilkur|t=stalk, stem}}.

Related also to {{cog|enm|stale|t=ladder upright, stalk}}, {{cog|ang|stalu|t=wooden upright}}, {{cog|gml|stal}}, {{m|gml|stale|t=chair leg}}, {{cog|ang|stela|t=stalk}}, {{m+|nl|steel|t=stalk}}, {{m+|de|Stiel|t=stalk}}, {{cog|sq|shtalkë|t=crossbeam, board used as a door hinge}}, {{cog|cy|telm|t=frond}}, {{cog|grc|στειλειή|t=beam}}, {{cog|xcl|ստեղն|t=trunk, stalk}}.

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# The [[stem]] or main [[axis]] of a [[plant]].
#: {{ux|en|a '''stalk''' of wheat, rye, or oats;&emsp; the '''stalks''' of maize or hemp}}
#* {{RQ:Vance Outsider|pages=377–378|pageref=378|passage=Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with {{...}} on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust from which gnarled and rusty '''stalks''' thrust themselves up like withered elfin limbs.}}
# The [[petiole]], [[pedicel]], or [[peduncle]] of a plant.
#: {{syn|en|footstalk}}
#: {{ux|en|grape '''stalks'''}}
# Something resembling the stalk of a plant, such as the stem of a [[quill]].
#* {{RQ:Grew Musaeum Regalis Societatis|passage=they appear to be made up of little Bladders , like those in the Plume or '''Stalk''' of a Quill }}
# {{lb|en|architectural element}} An ornament in the Corinthian capital resembling the stalk of a plant, from which the volutes and helices spring.
# One of the two upright pieces of a ladder.
# {{lb|en|zoology}}
## A stem or [[peduncle]], as in certain [[barnacle]]s and [[crinoid]]s.
## The narrow basal portion of the [[abdomen]] of a [[hymenopterous]] [[insect]].
## The peduncle of the eyes of [[decapod]] [[crustacean]]s.
# {{lb|en|metalworking}} An iron bar with projections inserted in a core to strengthen it; a core arbor.
# {{lb|en|mathematics|[[sheaf theory]]}} Informally, a [[construction]] which [[generalize]]s that of the notion of the [[ring]] of [[germ]]s of [[function]]s near a point to the context of arbitrary [[sheaf|sheaves]]. Formally, given a sheaf <math>\mathcal{F}</math> on a space <math>X</math>, and a point <math>x</math> in <math>X</math>, the [[direct limit]] of the [[section]]s of <math>F</math> on the [[open neighborhood]]s of <math>x</math> ordered by reverse [[inclusion]]. See {{pedia|Stalk (sheaf)}}

=====Derived terms=====
{{col|en|chimney stalk|e-stalk|Google stalk|jade stalk|laughing stalk|rose twisted-stalk|stalk-eyed fly|twisted-stalk|footstalk|gout stalk|stalk-eyed}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|stem or main axis of a plant}}
* Albanian: {{t+|sq|kërcell|m}}
* Arabic: {{t|ar|سَاق|f}}
* Armenian: {{t+|hy|ցողուն}}
* Bashkir: {{t|ba|һабаҡ|sc=Cyrl}}
* Belarusian: {{t|be|сцябло́|n}}
* Bulgarian: {{t+|bg|стъбло|n}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|tija|f}}
* Cebuano: {{t|ceb|dagami}}
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|莖|tr=jīng}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|stonek|m}}
* Danish: {{t+|da|stængel|c}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|steel|m}}, {{t+|nl|stengel|m}}, {{t+|nl|halm|m}}
* Estonian: {{t+|et|vars}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|varsi}}
* French: {{t+|fr|tige|f}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|talo|m}}, {{t|gl|pabea|f}} {{qualifier|of cereal}}, {{t+|gl|couceiro|m}} {{qualifier|of a cabbage}}
* Georgian: {{t+|ka|ღერო}}
* German: {{t+|de|Strunk|m}}, {{t+|de|Stiel|m}}, {{t+|de|Stängel|m}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|μίσχος|m}}
*: Ancient: {{t|grc|καυλός|m}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|גִּבְעוֹל|m|tr=giv'ol}}
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|तना|m}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|szár}}
* Ingrian: {{t|izh|varsi}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|gambo|m}}, {{t+|it|stelo|m}}, {{t+|it|fusto|m}}, {{t|it|caule|m}}, {{t|it|venatura centrale|f}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|茎|tr=[[くき]], kuki|sc=Jpan}}
* Kabuverdianu: {{t|kea|pé}}
* Kazakh: {{t|kk|сабақ}}
* Korean: {{t+|ko|그루}}, {{t+|ko|줄기}}
* Kurdish:
*: Northern Kurdish: {{t+|kmr|bistîk|f}}
* Latin: {{t+|la|caulis|f}}, {{t+|la|stipula|f}}
* Latvian: {{t+|lv|stumbrs|m}}
* Lithuanian: {{t|lt|stiebas|m}}
* Low German: {{t|nds|Steel|m}}, {{t|nds|Stängel}}, {{t|nds|Halm|m}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|стебло|n}}
* Makasae: {{t|mkz|bata}}
* Malay: {{t+|ms|batang}}
* Malayalam: {{t+|ml|തണ്ട്}}
* Maori: {{t|mi|tā}}, {{t|mi|tātā}}, {{t|mi|kaka}}, {{t|mi|tō}}
* Middle Persian: {{t|pal|𐮍𐮑𐮀𐮄|tr=stāx}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t+|nb|stengel|m}}
*: Nynorsk: {{t|nn|stengel|m}}
* Occitan: {{t+|oc|tija|f}}
* Ottoman Turkish: {{t|ota|صاپ|tr=sap}}
* Persian: {{t+|fa|ساقه|tr=sâqe}}, {{t+|fa|ستاک|tr=setâk}}, {{t|fa|ستاخ|tr=setâx}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|łodyga|f}}, {{t+|pl|badyl|m}} {{qualifier|dried}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|talo|m}}, {{t+|pt|haste|f}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|tijă|f}}, {{t+|ro|tulpină|f}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|сте́бель|m}}, {{t+|ru|стебло́|n}} {{qualifier|regional}}
* Serbo-Croatian: {{t|sh|стабљика|f}}, {{t+|sh|stabljika|f}}, {{t|sh|пeтeљка|f}}, {{t+|sh|peteljka|f}}
* Slovak: {{t|sk|stonka|f}}, {{t+|sk|steblo|n}}
* Slovene: {{t+|sl|steblo|n}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|tallo|m}}
* Swahili: {{t|sw|bua}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|stjälk|c}}
* Tagalog: {{t+|tl|tangkay}}
* Thai: {{t+|th|ก้าน}}
* Tocharian B: {{t|txb|pere}}
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|sap}}
* Ukrainian: {{t|uk|стебло́|n}}, {{t|uk|сте́бель|m}}
* Uzbek: {{t+|uz|poya}}
* Vietnamese: {{t+|vi|thân}}
* Western Bukidnon Manobo: {{t|mbb|reɣami}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|petiole, pedicel, or peduncle of a plant|petiole|pedicel|peduncle}}

{{trans-top|something resembling the stalk of a plant}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|varsi}}; {{t+|fi|ruoto}} {{qualifier|stem of a quill}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|architecture: ornament in the Corinthian capital}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|stelo|m}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|one of the two upright pieces of a ladder}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|runko}}
* German: {{t+|de|Holm|m}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|zoology: stem or peduncle, as in certain barnacles and crinoids}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|kaula}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|peduncolo|m}}, {{t|it|pedicello|m}}, {{t+|it|picciolo|m}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|zoology: narrow basal portion of the abdomen of a hymenopterous insect}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|zoology: peduncle of the eyes of decapod}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|tappi}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|metalworking: iron bar with projections inserted in a core}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Etymology 2===
From {{inh|en|enm|stalken}}, from {{inh|en|ang|*stealcian}} (as in {{m|ang|bestealcian|t=to move stealthily}}, {{m|ang|stealcung|t=stalking}}), from {{inh|en|gmw-pro|*stalukōn}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*stalukōną|t=to stalk, move stealthily}} (compare {{cog|nl|stelkeren|stelkeren, stolkeren|t=to tip-toe, tread carefully}}, {{cog|da|stalke|t=to high step, stalk}}, {{cog|no|-}} dialectal {{m|no|stalka|t=to trudge}}), from {{m|gem-pro|*stalkaz}}, {{m|gem-pro|*stelkaz}} (compare {{m+|ang|stealc|t=steep}}, {{m+|non|stelkr}}, {{m|non|stjalkr|t=knot (bird), red sandpiper}}), from {{der|en|ine-pro|*(s)telg}}, {{m|ine-pro|*(s)tolg-}} (compare {{m+|mga|tolg|t=strength}}, {{m+|lt|stalgùs|t=stiff, defiant, proud}}).<ref>Robert K. Barnhart and Sol Steinmetz, eds., ''Chambers Dictionary of Etymology'', s.v. "stalk<sup>2</sup>" (New York: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd., 2006), 1057.</ref>

Alternate etymology connects {{m+|gem-pro|*stalkōną}} to a frequentative form of {{m|gem-pro|*stelaną|t=to steal}}.

====Verb====
{{en-verb}}

# {{senseid|en|approach}} {{lb|en|transitive}} To approach slowly and quietly in order not to be discovered when getting closer.
#* {{RQ:Scott Peveril of the Peak|passage=As for shooting a man from behind a wall, it is cruelly like to '''stalking''' a deer.}}
#* {{RQ:Chambers Younger Set|I|passage=But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was '''stalking'''.}}
# {{lb|en|transitive}} To (try to) follow or contact someone constantly, often resulting in [[harassment]].<sup>{{w|Stalking|Wp}}</sup>
#: {{ux|en|My ex-girlfriend is '''stalking''' me.}}
# {{lb|en|intransitive}} To walk slowly and cautiously; to walk in a stealthy, noiseless manner.
#* {{RQ:Dryden Spanish Fryar|53|[Bertran] '''stalks''' close behind her, like a witch's fiend, / Pressing to be employed.}}
#* {{RQ:Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing|2|3|passage=O ay, '''stalk''' on, '''stalk''' on, the fowl sits}}
# {{lb|en|intransitive}} To walk behind something, such as a screen, for the purpose of approaching game; to proceed under cover.
#* {{RQ:Bacon Apophthegmes|passage=The king{{...}}crept under the shoulder of his led horse;{{...}}"I must '''stalk'''," said he.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1612|author=w:Michael Drayton|title=w:Poly-Olbion
|passage=One underneath his horse, to get a shoot doth '''stalk'''.}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|to approach slowly and quietly in order not to be discovered when getting closer}}
* Asturian: {{t|ast|chisbar}}
* Bulgarian: {{t|bg|прокрадвам се}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|sledovat}}, {{t+|cs|stopovat}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|vaania}}, {{t+|fi|väijyä}}
* French: {{t+|fr|traquer}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|aseitar}}
* German: sich {{t+|de|anpirschen}}, {{t|de|sich anschleichen}}, {{t|de|sich heranschleichen}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|κυνηγάω}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|ארב|tr=aráv}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|cserkész}}, {{t|hu|[[utána]][[oson]]}}, {{t+|hu|becserkész}}, {{t+|hu|ólálkodik}}
* Italian: {{t|it|accostarsi furtivamente}}, {{t+|it|inseguire}}, {{t+|it|tampinare}}, {{t+|it|pedinare}}
* Japanese: {{t|ja|忍び寄る|tr=しのびよる, shinobiyoru|sc=Jpan}}
* Maori: {{t|mi|whakamomoka}}, {{t|mi|whakamokamoka}}, {{t|mi|whakameto}}
* Nǀuu: {{t|ngh|ǃaba}}
* Old English: {{t|ang|bestealcian}}, {{t|ang|bestelan}}
* Polish: {{t|pl|zakradać się}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|tocaiar}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|кра́сться}}, {{t+|ru|подкрадываться}}
* Slovak: {{t|sk|zakrádať sa}}, {{t|sk|špehovať}}, {{t|sk|sledovať}}, {{t|sk|stopovať}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|acechar}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|förfölja}}, {{t+|sv|följa}}
* Vietnamese: {{t|vi|bám đuôi}}, {{t+|vi|rình rập}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|to (try to) follow or contact someone constantly, often resulting in harassment}}
* Bulgarian: {{t+|bg|преследвам}}
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|纏擾|tr=chánrǎo}}
* Czech: {{t|cs|pronásledovat}}, {{qualifier|colloquial}} {{t+|cs|šmírovat}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|stalken}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|vainota}}, {{t+|fi|piinata}}, {{t+|fi|jahdata}}, {{t+|fi|seurailla}}
* French: {{t+|fr|harceler}}
* German: {{t+|de|stalken}}, {{t+|de|nachstellen}}, {{t+|de|nachschleichen}}, {{t+|de|heimsuchen}}, {{t+|de|belästigen}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|κυνηγάω}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|zaklat}}, {{t+|hu|követ}}, {{t+|hu|nyomában van}}, {{t+|hu|rátapad}}
* Indonesian: {{t|id|kuntit, menguntit}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|molestare}}, {{t+|it|infastidire}}, {{t+|it|importunare}}, {{t+|it|assillare}}, {{t+|it|vessare}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|付きまとう|tr=つきまとう, tsukimatou|sc=Jpan}}
* Maori: {{t|mi|whakamokamoka}}, {{t|mi|whakamomoka}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|nękać}}, {{t|pl|stalkować}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|perseguir}}, {{t+|pt|stalkear}}
* Romanian: {{t|ro|a se ține scai}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|пресле́довать}}, {{t+|ru|ста́лкерить|impf}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|acechar}}, {{t+|es|acosar}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|förfölja}}, {{t+|sv|följa}}, {{t+|sv|stalka}}
* Tagalog: {{t|tl|panunubaybay}}
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|önmek}}
* Vietnamese: {{t|vi|bám đuôi}}, {{t+|vi|rình rập}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Dutch: {{t+check|nl|besluipen}}
* Italian: {{t+check|it|puntare}}, {{t+check|it|inseguire}}
* Norwegian: {{t+check|no|stilk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# A particular episode of trying to follow or contact someone.
# The hunting of a wild animal by stealthy approach.
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1885|author=w:Theodore Roosevelt|title=Hunting Trips of a Ranchman
|passage=When the '''stalk''' was over (the antelope took alarm and ran off before I was within rifle shot) I came back.}}

====Related terms====
* {{l|en|stalker}}

====References====
<references/>

===Etymology 3===
Attested 1530 in the sense "to walk haughtily", perhaps from {{der|en|ang|stealc|t=steep}}, from {{der|en|gem-pro|*stelkaz}}, {{m|gem-pro|*stalkaz|t=high, lofty, steep, stiff}}; see above.

====Verb====
{{en-verb}}

# {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[walk]] [[haughtily]].
#* {{RQ:Dryden Aeneis|10|passage=With manly mien he '''stalked''' along the ground.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1704|author=w:Joseph Addison|title=Milton's Stile Imitated, in a Translation of a Story out of the Third Aeneid
|passage=Then '''stalking''' through the deep, / He fords the ocean.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1850|author=Charles Merivale|title=History of the Romans Under the Empire
|passage=I forbear myself from entering the lists in which he has long '''stalked''' alone and unchallenged.}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|to walk haughtily}}
* Czech: {{t|cs|vykračovat si}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|kekkalehtia}}
* German: {{t+|de|stolzieren}}, {{t|de|einherstolzieren}}, {{t+|de|staksen}}, {{t+|de|stelzen}}, {{t+|de|staken}}, {{t|de|steifbeinig gehen}}
* Hungarian: {{t|hu|dölyfösen jár}}, {{t|hu|dölyfösen megy}}, {{t|hu|peckesen jár}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|вышагивать}}
{{trans-bottom}}

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# A haughty style of walking.

===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=aklst|Kastl|talks}}

{{C|en|Botany|Gaits|Plant anatomy}}

==Dutch==

===Pronunciation===
* {{audio|nl|Nl-stalk.ogg}}

===Verb===
{{head|nl|verb form}}

# {{infl of|nl|stalken||bare-verb}}