mid-14c. (mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), "to take or seize (property or goods) by law," a legal term, from Old French atachier "fasten; arrest" (11c.), earlier estachier "to attach, fix; stake up, support" (Modern French attacher, also compare Italian attaccare), from a- "to" (see ad-) + a base also found in detach, perhaps from Frankish *stakon "a post, stake" or a similar Germanic word, from Proto-Germanic *stakon- "a stake," from PIE root *steg- (1) "pole, stick" (see stake (n.)).

The meaning "fasten, affix, connect," which probably is the original sense etymologically, is attested in English from c. 1400. Related: Attached; attaching.

1773, "prize won in a winner-takes-all race or contest," from Middle English swepe stake, in the phrase make sweep stake "sweep the board, win all the stakes in a game" (late 15c.), from swepen "to sweep" (see sweep (v.)) + stake (n.2).

The notion is of the winner taking all the stakes, rather than the stakes being dividing among the top finishers. The meaning "any race or gambling for stakes contributed" is by 1862. Also compare Middle English wipe the stake in the same sense.

also grubstake, "material, provisions, etc. supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector) in return for a share in the profits," by 1876, American English western mining slang, from grub (n.) + stake (n.2).

c. 1300, stak, "pile, heap, or group of things," especially a pile of grain in the sheaf in circular or rectangular form (late 12c. in surnames), from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse stakkr "haystack" (cognate with Danish stak, Swedish stack "heap, stack"), from Proto-Germanic *stakon- "a stake." This is said to be from PIE *stog- (source also of Old Church Slavonic stogu "heap," Russian stog "haystack," Lithuanian stokas "pillar"), a variant of root *steg- (1) "pole, stick" (see stake (n.)).

Used of chimneys by 1660s, originally in reference to a number of them standing together; in reference to a single chimney for smoke, etc., from a locomotive, steamship, etc., by 1825. The meaning "set of shelves on which books are set out" is from 1879. Of computer data from 1960.

also stakeholder, 1708, "one with whom bets are deposited when a wager is made," from stake (n.2) + agent noun from hold (v.). Originally one with whom bets are deposited when a wager is made. By 1965 as "one who has something to gain or lose" (in a business, etc.), "one who has an interest in" (something).

"act of surveillance (of a place) to detect criminal activity or find a wanted person," by 1942, American English, from the verbal phrase in this sense, from stake (v.2) + out (adv.). The verbal phrase is from mid-15c. as "determine or mark (a boundary) with stakes."

1610s, "a barrier of stakes," a nativization of Spanish estacada, from estaca "stake," from a Germanic source cognate with Old English staca, see stake (n.1)). The meaning "military prison" is recorded by 1865. As a verb from 1755.