stalk

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
stalk1

▶noun

• 1 the main stem of a herbaceous plant.

  ■ the attachment or support of a leaf, flower, or fruit.

• 2 a similar support for a sessile animal, or for an organ in an animal.

• 3 a slender support or stem.

• 4 (in a vehicle) a lever on the steering column controlling the indicators, lights, etc.

– derivatives
-stalked adjective,
stalkless adjective,
stalk-like adjective,
stalky adjective.

– origin ME: prob. a dimin. of dial. stale ‘rung of a ladder, long handle’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
stalk2

▶verb

• 1 pursue or approach stealthily.

  ■ harass or persecute with unwanted and obsessive attention.

  ■ chiefly literary move silently or threateningly through.

• 2 stride in a proud, stiff, or angry manner.

▶noun

• 1 a stealthy pursuit.

• 2 a stiff, striding gait.

– derivatives
stalker noun.

– origin OE -stealcian (in bistealcian ‘walk cautiously or stealthily’), of Gmc origin; rel. to steal.