Noah Webster
Stew
STEW, verb transitive
1. To seethe or gently boil; to boil slowly in a moderate manner, or with a simmering heat; as, to stew meat; to stew applies; to stew prunes.
2. To boil in heat.
STEW, verb intransitive To be seethed in a slow gentle manner, or in heat and moisture.
STEW, noun
1. A hot house; a bagnio.
The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any armor, and give themselves to baths and stews.
2. A brothel; a house of prostitution; but generally or always used int he plural, stews.
3. A prostitute. [Not in use.]
4. [See Stow.] A store pond; a small pond where fish are kept for the table. [Not used.]
5. Meat stewed; as a stew of pigeons.
6. Confusion, as when the air is full of dust. [Not in use or local.]