sty

¹

[ stahy ]

noun

, plural sties.

1. a pen or enclosure for swine; pigpen.
2. any filthy place or abode.
3. a place of bestial debauchery.

verb (used with object)

, stied, sty·ing.

1. to keep or lodge in or as if in a sty.

verb (used without object)

, stied, sty·ing.

1. to live in or as if in a sty.

sty

²

or stye

[ stahy ]

noun

, Ophthalmology.

, plural sties.

1. a circumscribed abscess caused by bacterial infection of the glands on the edge of the eyelid; hordeolum.

sty

/ staɪ /

noun

1. a pen in which pigs are housed and fed
2. any filthy or corrupt place

verb

1. to enclose or be enclosed in a sty

Word History and Origins

Origin of sty¹

First recorded before 1000; (for the noun) Middle English; Old English stī- (as in stī-fearh “sty-pig”), probably identical to stig- in stigweard steward; cognate with Old Norse stī, Dutch stijg, German Steige

Origin of sty²

First recorded in 1610–20; by false division of Middle English styanye, from styan ( Old English stīgend “sty,” literally, “rising”) + ye eye ), misread as sty on eye

Word History and Origins

Origin of sty¹

Old English stig; related to Old Norse stīa pen, fold, Old High German stīga, Middle Dutch stije

Example Sentences

He cited San Francisco, a “pig sty” where there is an app to report human feces on the streets — a city that was cleaned up ahead of a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

From Washington Times

Many notable NFL draft experts and web sties projected Banks to go either late in the first round or early in the second.

From Washington Post

Physical sales came down but revenue from streaming sties like Spotify and Apple Music have gone up, earning the industry nearly £2bn.

From BBC

Three piglets on the loose from an abandoned sty were foraging in the city street.

From Reuters

The protesters were bussed to various sties where Zhang said they were forced to sign a letter guaranteeing they would not gather anymore.

From Seattle Times