The purpose of this article is to clarify, if possible, these different meanings. In essence, it will be shown that the first meaning, that is, capital stock in the sense of shares , while possibly technically inaccurate is practically unimportant; second, that the concept of capital stock as property or as a trust fund for creditors is, if given a literal meaning, most inaccurate, confusing and unnecessary; and third, that the concept of capital stock as an amount , is the only usage which is useful and correct under the present Washington statute