"instrument that keeps something stationary," before 1970, shortened form of Latin statim (adv.) "steadily, regularly; at once, immediately," from status "a station, position, place," noun of action from past participle stem of stare "to stand" from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." Perhaps originally "to a standstill." As an abbreviation of statistic, from 1961. Related: Stats.
)window.location='https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=byronic106@yahoo.com&lc=US&item_name=Donation+to +Help+Keep+Etymonline+Free+and+Open&no_note=0&cn=&curency_code=USD&bn=PP-DonationsBF:btn_donateCC_LG.gif:NonHosted'){kind=link}