stagger

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to arrange in a systematic order

   stagger the chairs in the lecture hall

2. 2
   verb

   astound or overwhelm, as with shock

   We were staggered by the bill for repairing our house after the earthquake.

3. 3
   verb

   walk as if unable to control one's movements

   The drunken person staggered into the room.

4. 4
   verb

   walk with great difficulty

   They staggered along in the heavy snow.

5. 5
   noun

   An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion.

   7 October 2012, Paolo Bandini in The Guardian, Denver Broncos 21 New England Patriots 31 - as it happened Put down the rosary beads folks, I believe hell may just have frozen over. Peyton Manning drops back, sees nothing open and runs for a first down. If you can call that running. More like the stagger of a wounded rhino. Did the job, though

6. 6
   noun

   A disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling.

   parasitic staggers

7. 7
   noun

   The spacing out of various actions over time.

   19 April 2016, Rachel Roddy in The Guardian, Rachel Roddy’s Roman spring vegetable stew recipe I don’t include cured pork, although it is very nice, and rather than putting everything in the pan at once I prefer a stagger of ingredients, which ensures each one gets the right amount of time.

8. 8
   verb

   To sway unsteadily, reel, or totter.

   She began to stagger across the room.

Etymology

From Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra (“to push, stagger”). Cognate with dialectal Danish stagre.