Stew

Stew (stū), n. [Cf. Stow.] 1. A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a vivarium. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer. Evelyn.

2. An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, U.S.]

Stew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stewing.] [OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. étuver, fr. OF. estuve, F. étuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.] To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire, without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew apples.

Stew (stū), v. i. To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.

Stew, n. [OE. stue, stuwe, OF. estuve. See Stew, v. t.] 1. A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes are furnished; a hothouse. [Obs.]

As burning Ætna from his boiling stew Doth belch out flames. Spenser.

The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and stews. Abp. Abbot.

2. A brothel; — usually in the plural. Bacon. South.

There be that hate harlots, and never were at the stews. Aschman.

3. A prostitute. [Obs.] Sir A. Weldon.

4. A dish prepared by stewing; as, a stewof pigeons.

5. A state of agitating excitement; a state of worry; confusion; as, to be in a stew. [Colloq.]