staunch

/ˈstȯnch/

Middle English staunche, stanch "watertight, solidly made, in good repair," borrowed from Anglo-French estanc, feminine estaunche "stanched (of blood), watertight," derivative of estancher "to stop (blood from flowing), (of a wound) stop bleeding, (of water) be stanched, dry up"

adjective

  1. steadfast in loyalty or principle

  2. watertight, sound

  3. strongly built : substantial

a staunch friend

faithful loyal constant staunch steadfast resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance. faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted. loyal implies a firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray.

verb

  1. to check or stop the flowing of; also : to stop the flow of blood from (a wound)

  2. to stop or check in its course

  3. to make watertight : stop, up

stanched her tears