stalk

intransitive verb

1. 1. to walk in a stiff, haughty, or grim manner
   2. to advance or spread grimly: plague stalks across the land
2. to pursue or approach game, an enemy, etc. stealthily, as from cover
3. Obsolete to walk or move along stealthily or furtively

Origin: ME stalken < OE stealcian (in comp.) < stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-, to place, set up > still, Gr stellein

transitive verb

1. to pursue or approach (game, prey, etc.) stealthily
2. to stalk through: terror stalked the streets
3. to follow or pursue (another person) persistently in a harassing and, typically, obsessive way

noun

1. a slow, stiff, haughty, or grim stride
2. the act of stalking game, an enemy, etc.

noun

1. any stem or stemlike part, as a slender rod, shaft, or support
2. Bot.
   1. the main stem or axis of a plant
   2. a lengthened part of a plant on which an organ grows or is supported, as the petiole of a leaf, the peduncle of a flower, etc.
3. Zool.
   1. a lengthened support for an animal organ
   2. a similar structure supporting a whole animal body, as the peduncle of a goose barnacle

Origin: ME stalke, akin to OE stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-: see still