Origin and history of stale

c. 1300, "freed from dregs or lees" (of ale, wine, etc.), probably literally "having stood long enough to clear," from Old French estale "settled, clear," from estal "place, fixed position," from Frankish *stal- "position," from Proto-Germanic *stol-, from PIE root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place.

Cognate with Middle Dutch stel "stale" (of beer and old urine). Originally a desirable quality (in beer and wine), "old," hence "strong." The meaning "not fresh, the worse for keeping" is by late 15c., of bread or food; "old," hence "lifeless."

The figurative sense (in reference to immaterial things) "old and trite, hackneyed" is recorded from 1560s. As a noun, "that which has become tasteless by exposure," hence "a prostitute" (in Shakespeare, etc.). Related: Staleness.

early 15c., "allow (beer, wine) to clear by sitting," from stale (adj.). Related: Staled; staling.