staunch2

 
Pronunciation: /stɔːn(t)ʃ, stɑːn(t)ʃ/
(chiefly US also stanch)

verb

[with object]
  • stop or restrict (a flow of blood) from a wound: he staunched the blood with whatever came to hand figurative the company did nothing to staunch the tide of rumours
  • stop the flow of blood from (a wound).

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French estanchier, from the base of staunch1

Spelling help

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