Staunchers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To be intently loyal and steadfast, often used to describe someone who provides strong support or protection
2. Referring to a person or thing that stops or prevents something from continuing
3. Describing devices or individuals that effectively halt or restrict flow, particularly in contexts of liquids or leaks

Etymology: "Staunchers" is the plural of "stauncher", a noun for a device that stops leaks, and the comparative suffix at its heart comes with a surprise. The adjective "staunch" is an older word meaning "watertight" or sound, and it was once used of ships and vessels. Its origin lies in Latin and French, where "stanchier" and related forms meant to stop the flow of something, so the idea of blocking a leak is built into the word from the start. The ending "-er" here is a comparative in its first sense. It was attached to "staunch" to mean "more staunch", so a "stauncher" was literally something that made a thing more watertight. Over time this grew into a plain noun for any device doing that job, a meaning that remains firmly tied to plumbing, ships and repairs.

Synonyms: stoppers, blockers, plugging devices