Stake
/steɪk/noun
A pointed wooden or metal post, or a financial share in something.
Did you know?In English, the same word developed both the sense of a pointed post and the idea of a “stake” as a fixed share or token, showing how physical objects became metaphors for ownership and risk.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steig-
“to prick, pierce, or stick”
Old English
OE
staca
“a stake, post, or support”
Old Norse
ON
staki
“a stake or post”
Middle English
ME
stake
“a pointed post; also a pledge or token placed in wagering”
Modern English
English
stake
“a pointed post; a share, interest, or risk in something”