stanch

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The Word of the Day for September 21 is:

stanch   \STAWNCH\   verb
    *1 : to check or stop the flow of; also : to stop the flow 
of blood from (a wound)
     2 a : to stop or check in its course b : to make 
watertight : stop up

Example sentence:
     The first-aid manual advised immediate application of 
pressure to the cut to stanch the bleeding.

Did you know?
     The verb "stanch" has a lot in common with the 
adjective "staunch," meaning "steadfast." Not only do both words 
derive from the Anglo-French word "estancher" (which has the 
same meaning as "stanch"), but the spelling "s-t-a-n-c-h" is 
sometimes used for the adjective, and the spelling 
"s-t-a-u-n-c-h" is sometimes used for the verb. Although both 
spelling variants have been in reputable use for centuries and 
both are perfectly standard for either the verb or 
adjective, "stanch" is the form used most often for the verb 
and "staunch" is the most common variant for the adjective.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.