6. Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. [Obs.] "Not grudging that thy lust hath
bounds and stays." Herbert.
The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.
Bacon.
With prudent stay he long deferred
The rough contention.
Philips. 7. (Engin.) Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.
Stay bolt (Mech.),
a bolt or short rod, connecting opposite plates, so as to prevent them from being
bulged out when acted upon by a pressure which tends to force them apart, as in the leg of a steam
boiler. — Stay busk, a stiff piece of wood, steel, or whalebone, for the front support of a woman's
stays. Cf. Busk. — Stay rod, a rod which acts as a stay, particularly in a steam boiler.