noun
stag
STAG
noun
1
An adult male deer, especially a mature red deer.
"A stag stood silhouetted on the ridge at dawn."
2
A party held for a man shortly before his wedding, attended by his male friends.
"They took him to Prague for his stag weekend."
3
A man attending a social event without a date.
"He went to the dance stag after his date cancelled."
How to Use Stag
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA male deer, or (informally) a pre-wedding party for the groom and his friends.
UK vs US
"Stag do" and "stag night" are the common British terms; American English usually says "bachelor party."
Common pairings
stag do
stag night
stag party
Word Forms
stagged past tense, stags plural, stags singular
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Etymology
From Old English stagga, related to Old Norse words for a male animal; ultimately from a very old root meaning something like "sharp" or "stiff," possibly referencing antlers.