stool

[ stool ]

noun

1. a single seat on legs or a pedestal and without arms or a back.
2. a short, low support on which to stand, step, kneel, or rest the feet while sitting.
3. Horticulture. the stump, base, or root of a plant from which propagative organs are produced, as shoots for layering.
4. the base of a plant that annually produces new stems or shoots.
5. a cluster of shoots or stems springing up from such a base or from any root, or a single shoot or layer.
6. a bird fastened to a pole or perch and used as a decoy.
7. an artificial duck or other bird, usually made from wood, used as a decoy by hunters.
8. a privy.
9. the fecal matter evacuated at each movement of the bowels.
10. the sill of a window.
11. a bishop's seat considered as symbolic of his authority; see.
12. the sacred chair of certain African chiefs, symbolic of their kingship.

verb (used without object)

1. to put forth shoots from the base or root, as a plant; form a stool.
2. Slang. to turn informer; serve as a stool pigeon.

stool

/ stuːl /

noun

1. a backless seat or footrest consisting of a small flat piece of wood, etc, resting on three or four legs, a pedestal, etc
2. a rootstock or base of a plant, usually a woody plant, from which shoots, etc, are produced
3. a cluster of shoots growing from such a base
4. a decoy used in hunting
5. waste matter evacuated from the bowels
6. a lavatory seat
7. (in W Africa, esp Ghana) a chief's throne
8. fall between two stools
   1. to fail through vacillation between two alternatives
   2. to be in an unsatisfactory situation through not belonging to either of two categories or groups

verb

1. (of a plant) to send up shoots from the base of the stem, rootstock, etc
2. to lure wildfowl with a decoy

Other Words From

• stoollike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stool¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English stōl; cognate with German Stuhl, Old Norse stōll, Gothic stols “chair”; all are from unattested Germanic stō- (from Indo-European root of stand ) + -l- suffix (unattested); akin to Old Church Slavonic stolŭ “throne”

Word History and Origins

Origin of stool¹

Old English stōl; related to Old Norse stōll, Gothic stōls, Old High German stuol chair, Greek stulos pillar

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fall between two stools, to fail, through hesitation or indecision, to select either of two alternatives.

More idioms and phrases containing stool

In addition to the idiom beginning with stool , also see fall between the cracks (two stools) .

Example Sentences

A February study of 73 patients hospitalized with the coronavirus in China’s Guangdong province found more than half tested positive for the virus in their stool.

From Fortune

Since the first weeks of the pandemic, however, scientists in China have said infectious virus in the stool of patients may also play a role in transmission.

From Fortune

The Hong Kong scientists studied stool samples from 15 patients to better understand the virus’s activity in the gastrointestinal tract.

From Fortune

I love how the stool features a big bite of kernels missing, suggesting that it is almost too delicious to not purchase.

From Eater

I needed to know more about the woman behind the corn stool, so I emailed Abi Crompton, the creative director and founder of Third Drawer.

From Eater

He noticed her in the crowd while he was sitting on his stool between rounds.

From The Daily Beast

Furthermore, a person with norovirus has about 70 billion viral particles per gram of stool.

From The Daily Beast

I try to catch the eye of this third boy, but he plops down onto a stool and avoids my gaze.

From The Daily Beast

Long wisps fall across her forehead as she sits very straight on her stool, her narrow shoulder blades drawn back elegantly.

From The Daily Beast

Everman had his last drink and left for the night when a friend grabbed me by the arm, yanking me off my stool.

From The Daily Beast

Tony's stool was nearer to the bass keys of the piano, while the sofa Lettice lay upon had certainly been drawn up towards him.

From Project Gutenberg

If, now, the patient cough or strain as if at stool, the contents of the stomach will usually be forced out through the tube.

From Project Gutenberg

When bleeding piles are absent, blood-streaks upon such a stool point to carcinoma.

From Project Gutenberg

When the mucus is small in amount and intimately mixed with the stool, the trouble is probably in the small intestine.

From Project Gutenberg

A Gram-positive stool due to cocci is suggestive of intestinal ulceration.

From Project Gutenberg