Topic: TRANSPORT
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Sense: 1,4
| Date: | 1900-2000 |
| Origin: | stall 'to put in a stall' (14-20 centuries), from STALL1 |
| Date: | 1800-1900 |
| Origin: | stale 'something that leads people from the correct way' (15-19 centuries), from Anglo-French estale 'something set up' |
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stall2
1 [intransitive and transitive]TT if an engine or vehicle stalls, or if you stall it, it stops because there is not enough power or speed to keep it going : 
The car kept stalling.An inexperienced pilot may easily stall a plane.
The car kept stalling.An inexperienced pilot may easily stall a plane.2 [intransitive] informal to deliberately delay because you are not ready to do something, answer questions etc :
3 [transitive] informal to make someone wait or stop something from happening until you are ready : Maybe we can stall the sale until the prices go up. We've got to stall him somehow.
Maybe we can stall the sale until the prices go up.We've got to stall him somehow.4 [intransitive] to stop making progress or developing : The peace process remained stalled. While his career has stalled, hers has taken off.
The peace process remained stalled.While his career has stalled, hers has taken off.