noun

stake

Translation

stake, share, bet

He drove a wooden stake into the ground.

She has a 20% stake in the company.

The stakes are high in this poker game.

((a)) stake ((in sth.)) a share or interest in something She has a stake in the business's success.

at stake at risk; in a situation where something might be lost His reputation is at stake.

Post: pole, picket; Share: interest, investment; Bet: wager, ante

From Old English 'staca' (a post). The financial sense developed from the idea of putting down a stake to mark a claim or a bet.

Imagine putting a physical 'stake' in the ground to claim your financial 'stake' (share). Something at risk is 'at stake'.