Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Stall \Stall\, n. [OE. stal, AS. steall, stall, a place, seat,
or station, a stable; akin to D. & OHG. stal, G. & Sw. stall,
stallr, Dan. stald, originally, a standing place; akin to G.
selle a place, stellen to place, Gr. ? 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 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 dignifird clergy, out of humanility, have called
their thrones by the names of stalls. --Bp.
Warburton.
Loud the monks 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}.
{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.