staunch1

 
Pronunciation: /stɔːn(t)ʃ/

adjective

  • 1very loyal and committed in attitude: a staunch supporter of the anti-nuclear lobby a staunch Catholic
  • 2(of a wall) of strong or firm construction: these staunch walls could withstand attack by cannon
  • (also stanch) archaic (of a ship) watertight: powerful and stanch boats

Derivatives

staunchly

adverb
[as submodifier]: a staunchly Royalist county

staunchness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'watertight'): from Old French estanche, feminine of estanc, from a Romance base meaning 'dried up, weary'. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th century

Spelling help

Remember that staunch is spelled with -au- in the middle (the spelling stanch is American).