Английский Этимологический словарь - stew (v.)

- 14c., originally "bathe in a steam bath," from O.Fr. estuver "bathe, stew," of uncertain origin, possibly from V.L. *extufare "evaporate," from ex- "out" + *tufus "vapor, steam," from Gk. typhos "smoke." The noun meaning "stewed meat" is first recorded 1756. The obsolete slang meaning "brothel" (late M.E., usually plural, stews) is from an earlier sense of "public bath house," carried over from O.Fr. and reflecting the reputation of such houses. The verb meaning "to be left to the consequences of one's actions" is from 1656. Stewed "drunk" first attested 1737.