(a) To furnish (a stronghold, castle, town, etc.) with military forces, provisions, armaments, etc. for defense; man (a wall); garrison (the marches); ~ with (of), equip (a stronghold, castle, town, etc.) with (men, stores, weaponry, etc.), fill (a warship) with (men, provisions, equipment), furnish (a wall, tower, gate, etc.) with (men, armaments, etc.); also fig. or in fig. context [quots. c1450 & last]; also, provide a fortified encampment with (men) [quot. 1442]; best stuffed, of a castle: best equipped with stores, weapons, etc.; (b) to reinforce (troops); also, refl. provide oneself with forces, equipment, etc.; ~ with (of), furnish (sb.) with (knights, a military force), reinforce (troops, legions, wings of an army, etc.) with (fighters, horsemen, etc.); also, refl. provide oneself with (men, food, equipment); (c) to equip (sb., a soldier), arm; stuffed in stele, equipped with armor, clad in armor; (d) to load (an animal with men, provisions, armaments, etc.).

(a) To provision (a city, land, place, etc.) with grain or foodstuff; ~ with, supply (an inn, a house, town, place, etc.) with (grain, food); also, stock (a tower) with (riches); ppl. stuffed, supplied with provisions, goods, etc.; also, supplied (with provisions); (b) ~ with, to furnish (sb., oneself) with (goods, provisions, etc.); also fig. [quot. a1450, 1st]; ppl. stuffed, equipped, stocked, supplied; also, supplied (with sth.); (c) to load (a ship); ~ with, load (a ship, packhorse, chariot) with (provisions, cargo, booty, etc.); (d) ppl. stuffed, fig. prosperous, wealthy; also, endowed; stuffed with, endowed with (goodness, knowledge of language).

(a) To fill (sth., a receptacle), cram full; ~ ful (of; ~ with; (b) fig. to fill (sb. with grace, the soul with the stench of sin); refl. stuff oneself (with sin); (c) to fill (the belly with food or drink); refl. gorge oneself; ppl. stuffed, filled to repletion, sated with food; also, of the belly: loaded with food; (d) to clog (a bodily organ), stop up; ben stuffed in the hed, have a stuffy head; (e) to fill (a mattress, garment, armor, etc.) with padding, stuff; line (a helmet) with padding; ppl. stuffed, padded, stuffed; stuffed (with sth.); (f) cook. to fill (a pastry) with a filling, stuff (the cavity of a fowl or an animal) with a stuffing; ~ with; (g) fig. to make (heaven, earth) full, impregnate.

In phrase: ~ togeder, to draw (knights) into a tighter formation, rally; ben stuffed, of coins: be crammed (under steel bands); of fighting men: ?be beset or crowded (by others) [quot. c1440, which could also be construed as sense 1. (b)]; ppl. stuffed, of fabric: having a design or pattern crowded (with figures); of persons: crowded (around sb.).