stall (sta̤l), noun [OE. stal, AS. steall, stall, a place, seat, or station, a stable; akin to D. & OHG. stal, G. & Sw. stall, Icel. stallr, Dan. stald, originally, a standing place; akin also to G. stelle a place, stellen to place, Gr. στέλλειν to set, place, send, and E. stand. √163. See Stand, and cf. Apostle, Epistle, Forestall, Install, Stale, adjective & intransitive verb, 1st Stalk, Stallion, Still.]

1. A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox is kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal. “In an oxes stall.” Chaucer.

2. A stable; a place for cattle.

At last he found a stall where oxen stood. Dryden.

3. A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher’s stall; a bookstall.

4. A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.

How peddlers' stalls with glittering toys are laid. Gay.

5. A seat in the choir of a church, for one of the officiating clergy. It is inclosed, either wholly or partially, at the back and sides. The stalls are frequently very rich, with canopies and elaborate carving.

The dignified clergy, out of humility, have called their thrones by the names of stalls. Bp. Warburton.

Loud the monks sang in their stalls. Longfellow.

6. In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly inclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.

7. (Mining) The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post.

8. A covering or sheath, as of leather, horn, of iron, for a finger or thumb; a cot; as, a thumb stall; a finger stall.

Stall reader: one who reads books at a stall where they are exposed for sale.

Cries the stall reader, “Bless us! what a word on
A titlepage is this!” Milton.

Stall, transitive verb [imperfect or past participle Stalled (sta̤ld); present participle or verbal noun Stalling.] [Cf. Sw. stalla, Dan. stalde.]

1. To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stall or stalls; as, to stall an ox.

Where King Latinus then his oxen stalled. Dryden.

2. To fatten; as, to stall cattle. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install. [Obs.] Shak.

4. To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix; as, to stall a cart. Burton.

His horses had been stalled in the snow. E. E. Hale.

5. To forestall; to anticipate. [Obs.]

This is not to be stall'd by my report. Massinger.

6. To keep close; to keep secret. [Obs.]

Stall this in your bosom. Shak.

Stall, intransitive verb [AS. steallian to have room. See Stall, noun]

1. To live in, or as in, a stall; to dwell. [Obs.]

We could not stall together
In the whole world. Shak.

2. To kennel, as dogs. Johnson.

3. To be set, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.

4. To be tired of eating, as cattle. [Prov. Eng.]

-- Websters 1913