Stall

n. [ 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. ste`llein to set, place, send, and E. stand. √163. See Stand, and cf. Apostle, Epistle, Forestall, Install, Stale, a. & v. i., 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stable; a place for cattle. [ 1913 Webster ]

At last he found a stall where oxen stood. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher's stall; a bookstall. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale. [ 1913 Webster ]

How peddlers' stalls with glittering toys are laid. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dignified clergy, out of humility, have called their thrones by the names of stalls. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Loud the monks sang in their stalls. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly inclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mining) The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Stall reader, one who reads books at a stall where they are exposed for sale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cries the stall reader, “Bless us! what a word on
A titlepage is this!” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]