stanchion
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈstæntʃən/
KK: /ˈstænʃən/
noun
Definition
A vertical post or support used to hold something up or to secure animals in place.
Example
The workers installed a stanchion to support the new roof.
Conversation
Did you see that new exhibit at the museum?
Yeah, I loved how they used the stanchion for the art pieces.
Right? It really helped guide the visitors through the space.
Exactly! It made everything feel more organized.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
post
pillar
brace
Antonyms
weakness
collapse
failure
transitive verb
Definition
To secure or confine something, often livestock, using a support structure or barrier.
Example
Farmers stanchion their cattle to keep them in place while milking.
Tense Forms
Past: stanchioned
Past Participle: stanchioned
Conversation
Did you see how they stanchion the cows at the farm yesterday?
Yeah, it looked like a smart way to keep them in place.
I wonder if they stanchion them like that every day.
Root Explanation
Stanchion comes from the Old French word 'estanchon', which is derived from 'estanchier' (meaning to stop or to stanch). The word refers to a post or support that stops or holds something in place, particularly in a structural context.
Memory Tip
Think of a post that 'stops' or 'holds' something in place — that's what a stanchion does.
Visually Confused Words
stenchion
sanction
panchion
sancho