stable2

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪb(ə)l/

noun

  • a building set apart and adapted for keeping horses: the horse was led from its stable
  • an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained: racing stables the horse make his debut for the Mick Naughton stable
  • the racehorses of a particular training establishment.
  • an organization or establishment training or producing a particular type of person or product: the player comes from the same stable as Agassi

verb

[with object]
  • put or keep (a horse) in a stable: they must be stabled and fed
  • put or base (a train) in a depot: one of the two locomotives stabled at Fort William

Phrases

shut (or bolt) the stable door after the horse has bolted

British try to avoid or prevent something undesirable when it is already too late to do so: to lock up young car thieves is another example of bolting the stable door after the horse has fled

Derivatives

stableful

noun (plural stablefuls)

Origin:

Middle English: shortening of Old French estable 'stable, pigsty', from Latin stabulum, from the base of stare 'to stand'