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Origin and history of stalk

stalk(n.)

"stem or main axis of a plant," early 14c., probably a diminutive (with -k suffix) of Middle English stale "one of the uprights of a ladder, handle, stalk," from Old English stalu "wooden part" (of a tool or instrument), from Proto-Germanic *stalla- (source also of Old English steala "stalk, support," steall "place"). This is reconstructed to be from PIE *stol-no-, suffixed form of *stol-, variant of root *stel- "to put, stand, put in order," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place.

In reference to similar slender, shaft-like structures in animals from mid-15c.

also from early 14c.

stalk(v.1)

[pursue stealthily] Middle English stalken, "walk cautiously or stealthily, step quietly and softly," from Old English -stealcian, as in bestealcian "to steal along, walk warily," from Proto-Germanic *stalkon, frequentative of PIE *stel-, which is possibly a variant of *ster- (3) "to rob, steal" (see steal (v.), and compare stealth).

Compare hark/hear, talk/tell. In another view the Old English word might be influenced by stalk (n.). It was used by late 14c. in reference to persons approached cautiously; by 1823 as "pursue (game) by stealthy approach." The meaning "harass obsessively" is recorded by 1991. Related: Stalked; stalking.

stalk(v.2)

[walk haughtily, walk with stiff, high steps] 1520s, perhaps from stalk (n.) with a notion of "long, awkward strides." The sense is nearly opposite to that of stalk (v.1), yet some suggest this is a special sense of it. Also compare Old English stealcung "a stalking, act of going stealthily," which is related to stealc "steep, lofty."

also from 1520s

Entries linking to stalk

stalking(adj.)

"walking softly or stealthily" mid-15c., present-participle adjective from stalk (v.1).

A stalking-horse (1510s) in literal use was a horse draped in trappings and trained to allow a fowler to conceal himself behind it to get within range of game; the figurative sense of "person who participates in a proceeding to disguise its real or more important purpose" is recorded from 1610s (Webster, "White Devil").

steal(v.)

Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan "commit a theft, take and carry off clandestinely and without right or leave" (class IV strong verb; past tense stæl, past participle stolen), from Proto-Germanic *stelanan (source also of Old Norse stela, Old Saxon stelan, Old Frisian stela "to steal, rob one of," Dutch stelen, Old High German stelan, German stehlen, Gothic stilan "to steal"), which is perhaps from a PIE *stel-, variant of *ster- "rob, steal," but Boutkan finds for it no good IE etymology.

The intransitive meaning "depart or withdraw stealthily and secretly" is from late Old English. "The notion of secrecy ... seems to be part of the original meaning of the vb." [OED]. According to Buck, most IE words for steal have roots in notions of "hide," "carry off," or "collect, heap up."

Attested as a verb of stealthy motion from c. 1300 (as in steal away, late 14c.). Of kisses from late 14c.; of time from 1520s; of glances, sighs, etc., from 1580s. In reference to plagiarism by 1540s. The various sports senses begin 1836 (cricket). To steal the show in entertainment slang (by 1925) is to outshine the rest of the cast.