"Stake your claim"

Posted by Susan on March 30, 2000

In Reply to: "Stake your claim" posted by Frankie on March 29, 2000

: What's the origin to "To stake one's claim"?
: I've heard people use this phrase whenever something
: which is rightfully yours is for the taking or threatened.

Having watched a documentary on t.v. last night.....would submit it is connected to the gold rushes in Alaska and California. Miner's staked their claims in order to mine the gold on a particular piece of ground. The claim was registered and gave them rightful ownership to all minerals found thereon.