Stew
Stew , noun
[Compare Stow.]
1.
A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a vivarium. [Obsolete or Provincial English] — Chaucer. Evelyn
2.
An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, United States]
Stew , transitive verb
[Old English stuven, Old French estuver, French étuver, from Old French estuve, French étuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to English stove. See Stove, and compare 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 , intransitive verb
To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.
Stew , noun
[Old English stue, stuwe, Old French estuve. See Stew, transitive verb]
1.
A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes are furnished; a hothouse. [Obsolete]
As burning Aetna from his boiling stew
Doth belch out flames.
The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and stews.
2.
A brothel; -- usually in the plural. — Bacon. South
There be that hate harlots, and never were at the stews.
3.
A prostitute. [Obsolete] — 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. [Colloquial]