stack

Definition

A pile.

Etymology

From Middle English stack, stacke, stakke, stak, from Old Norse stakkr (“a barn; haystack; heap; pile”), from Proto-Germanic *stakkaz (“a barn; rick; haystack”). The data structure sense is a calque of Dutch stapel, introduced by Edsger W. Dijkstra. Cognate with Icelandic stakkur (“stack”), Swedish stack (“stack”), Danish stak (“stack”), Norwegian stakk (“stack”). Related to stake and sauna.

Example Sentences

• "But corn was housed, and beans were in the stack."
• "Please bring me a chair from that stack in the corner."
• "There was againſt euery Pillar, a Stacke of Billets, aboue a Mans Height;"