n. & v.
—n.
1 a a trader's stand or booth in a market etc., or out of doors. b a compartment in a building for the sale of goods. c a table in this on which goods are exposed.
2 a a stable or cowhouse. b a compartment for one animal in this.
3 a a fixed seat in the choir or chancel of a church, more or less enclosed at the back and sides and often canopied, esp. one appropriated to a clergyman (canon's stall; dean's stall). b the office or dignity of a canon etc.
4 (usu. in pl.) Brit. each of a set of seats in a theatre, usu. on the ground floor.
5 a a compartment for one person in a shower-bath, lavatory, etc. b a compartment for one horse at the start of a race.
6 a the stalling of an engine or aircraft. b the condition resulting from this.
7 a receptacle for one object (finger-stall).
—v.
1 a intr. (of a motor vehicle or its engine) stop because of an overload on the engine or an inadequate supply of fuel to it. b intr. (of an aircraft or its pilot) reach a condition where the speed is too low to allow effective operation of the controls. c tr. cause (an engine or vehicle or aircraft) to stall.
2 tr. a put or keep (cattle etc.) in a stall or stalls esp. for fattening (a stalled ox). b furnish (a stable etc.) with stalls.
3 intr. a (of a horse or cart) stick fast as in mud or snow. b US be snowbound.
Phrases and idioms:
stall-feed fatten (cattle) in a stall.
Etymology: OE steall f. Gmc, rel. to STAND: partly f. OF estal f. Frank.
2.
v. & n.
—v.
1 intr. play for time when being questioned etc.
2 tr. delay, obstruct, block.
—n. an instance of stalling.
Phrases and idioms:
stall off evade or deceive.
Etymology: stall pickpocket's confederate, orig. 'decoy' f. AF estal(e), prob. rel. to STALL(1)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.