| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| stall (n., v.) |
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| meaning “to delay or put off by trick or evasion,” comes from the obsolete stale, “a lure or one who lures.” Hence to stall for time is “to delay by deceiving, by means of a trick.” The noun in this sense is “a trick, a dodge, a delaying by deception.” All such uses are Standard, as is the combined form to stall off. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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