Stanch, a. [Compar. Stancher; superl. Stanchest.]
Etymology: [From Stanch, v. t., and hence literally signifying, stopped or stayed; cf. Sp. estanco stopped, tight, not leaky, as a ship. See Stanch, v. t.]
[Written also staunch.]
1. Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship. One of the closets is parqueted with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding stanch and pretty. Evelyn.
2. Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent. V. Knox. In politics I hear you 're stanch. Prior.
3. Close; secret; private. [Obs.] This to be kept stanch. Locke.
4 other Webster entries under this spelling
Stanch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stanched; p. pr. & vb. n. Stanching.]
1. To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound. [Written also staunch.] Iron or a stone laid to the neck doth stanch the bleeding of the nose. Bacon.
2. To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst. [Obs.]
Stanch, v. i.
To cease, as the flowing of blood. Immediately her issue of blood stanched. Luke viii. 44.
Stanch, n.
1. That which stanches or checks. [Obs.]
2. A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release. Knight.
Stanch, v. t.
To prop; to make stanch, or strong. His gathered sticks to stanch the wall Of the snow tower when snow should fall. Emerson.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for stanch; he lists it under faithful.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.