Stem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stemmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stemming.]
[Either from stem, n., or akin to stammer; cf. G. stemmen to press
against.] To oppose or cut with, or as with, the stem of a vessel; to
resist, or make progress against; to stop or check the flow of, as a
current. "An argosy to stem the waves." Shak.
[They] stem the flood with their erected breasts.
Denham.
Stemmed the wild torrent of a barbarous age.
Pope.
Stem, v. i. To move forward against an obstacle, as a vessel against a
current.
Stemming nightly toward the pole.
Milton.
Stem"-clasp`ing (?), a. (Bot.) Embracing the stem with its base;
amplexicaul, as a leaf or petiole.
Stem"less, a. Having no stem; (Bot.) acaulescent.
Stem"let (?), n. A small or young stem.
||Stem"ma (?), n.; pl. Stemmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, pl. &?;, a
||garland or chaplet.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the ocelli of an insect. See
||Ocellus. (b) One of the facets of a compound eye of any arthropod.
Stem"mer (?), n. One who, or that which, stems (in any of the senses of
the verbs).
Stem"mer*y (?), n. A large building in which tobacco is stemmed. [U.
S.] Bartlett.
Stem"my (?), a. Abounding in stems, or mixed with stems; -- said of
tea, dried currants, etc. [Colloq.]
Stem"ple (?), n. [G. stempel a stamp, a prop, akin to E. stamp.]
(Mining) A crossbar of wood in a shaft, serving as a step.
Stem"son (?), n. [See Stem, n., and Keelson, and cf. Sternson.]
(Shipbuilding) A piece of curved timber bolted to the stem, keelson,
and apron in a ship's frame near the bow.