Middle English Dictionary Entry
stal(le n.
Entry Info
Forms | stal(le n. Also stale, staulle, (early SWM) steal & stāle, (N) staile & stel, (in place name) stelle. |
Etymology | OE steall & stæl & OF estal, stail, staule, AF stalle, estale & ML stallum, staulum, AL stellum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An enclosed or partially enclosed place for keeping a domesticated animal, a stall; a stable; also in fig. context [quot.: ?a1425]; also in proverbs and prov. expressions; asse (oxe) ~; (b) a place for catching fish, esp. a pool of standing water in a stream where a net can be placed; ~ bot, a kind of fishing boat placed at anchor at the mouth of a river; ~ net; (c) a particular place within a structure; an enclosed space; stalles of estat, places of dignity or high rank, ?court.
Associated quotations
a
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)104 : Ʒe sculen finden þet child..liggen in an asse stalle.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2145 : Sannte Marʒe..Þatt stannt wiþþ hire sune i stall Þær heʒhesst iss inn heoffne.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)113 : Seuen strides he makede, On of heuene into þe maidenes inneðe, Oðer þenne in to þe stalle, [etc.].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)629 : Hors a stable & oxe a stalle, Boþ al þat hom wule þar falle.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)64 : Iye schulle finde with in þe wale A milde beste stond in stalle.
- c1330 Len puet (Auch)82 : God..was born in an oxe stalle.
- c1390 Maidstone PPs.(Vrn)46 : Bote seþþhe þi flesch, lord, was parceyued And for vr sake strauht on stalle, Was neuer sinful mon deceyued Þat wolde to þi merci calle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4186 : Oon of hem was logged in a stalle Fer in a yeerd with oxen of the plow.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.398 : She was born and fed in rudenesse As in a cote or in an oxe stalle.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1699 : In þe boþem sal be na stall, For al þeir filth sal þedir fall.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)179 : Of steedes in my stalle Go and chese þe þe best.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.296 : Who so wolde encrese his glorie..Firste he moste..with thise bolys fiʒt..And make hem humble as any oxe in stalle.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1469 : For with a boor as gret as ox in stalle She made up frete hire corn and vynes alle.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)18 : Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste, out of thy stal!
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5603 : Vlixes..Philotenes..and many other..Al that day stode as oxe in stalle.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14998 : Ne neuer manys gud I stale, noþer in stall ne in stabyll.
- c1450 Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)92 : Brynge þe oxe to þe halle, ande he wolle to þe stalle.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)40 : Thou arte God..And verray man, reghte in thyn Oxes staulle.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.886 : But þou haue loue of neighbours with all, Thow shalt be shett vp as ony oxe in stall.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)119b : A Stalle for horse or bestis: Presepe, Bostar.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.302 : Loue..leyde hym in þe oxsys stalle.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)201 : We haue broght..Stedys into thy stalle.
- a1500 As holy kyrke makys (Adv 19.3.1)27 : A sterne forth ladde þeis kyngis all, Inquirentes dominum Lyyng in a nasse stall.
b
- (1246) Chart.R.PRO1.310 : [Grant..of..the right to have a boat on the water of Chester to fish where they will above or below the bridge in] hetun, dreynett, flodnett, [and] stalnett, [and with whatever net they will].
- (1303-4) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5973 : [Of Robert Harald for two] stalnettis [in Dee, 22 1/2 d.].
- (1328-9) *Acc.Exch.K.R.Mem.m.125 [OD col.] : Quolibet piscante cum batello vocato stalbot.
- -?-(1303) Reg.Kellawe in RS 62.340 : Quatuor stelnettes, duo rednettes.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1506 : Nou is alle þis guere geten, glotounes to serve, Stad in a ryche stal.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)695 : Bytwene þa ʒates now es he tane..Als he was stoken in þat stall, He herd byhind him in a wall A dore opend..And þareout come a damysel.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)295/75 : What, and schall I rise nowe, in þe deuyllis name, To stighill amang straungeres in stales of a state [read: astate]?
2.
A booth, bench, table, etc. used for selling merchandise, changing money, butchering, etc.; ~ site lether, ?leather cured cheaply at a vending stall; flesh ~.
Associated quotations
- (1290-91) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.539 : De Ricardo de Stalham quia facit falsitatem in opere tannando correos suos cum cortice fraxineo, et vocatur Stalsitelether.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.56 : Also no wollemongere..may habbe no stal in þe heye-stret of Wynchestre.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1884 : Alisaunder and alle his kniʒttes Hem to pieces þai gonne talle, So bocher þat hog vpon his stalle.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.128 : Cryst..caste adown her stalles Þat in cherche chaffareden.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36b/a : Lanitorium: a fleshe stalle [Cnt: Laniatorium: a bochery].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)472 : Stalle, be-forne a schoppe: Stallus, ferculum.
- (1447-8) Shillingford85 : They have made a purpresture yn the Hye strete of the seide Cyte v stalys of lx fote long and more and iij feete yn brede.
- (1449) RParl.5.152a : The people is wilfully more..defouled in bodely labour, in..makyng of Bothis and Stalls, in..hevyng and shuffyng of her Chaffare out and home.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)413/27 : Hugh and his heires..defended the forsaid benche or stalle, with the Celer and the pertynentis.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.404 : The counceill of a flaterere thow flee..He sheweth all pleasauns on his stalle; Many a man bieth of his cheffare.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.218 : He drow doun here boþis & ouyrturnyd here stallis & here setis & spylte here monye.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.193 : It is symonye..in chirche ʒerd to chapmen to settyn on her boodys & her stallys for to makyn Goddys hous an hous of merchandye.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)2273 : Thay..Vppon sarisins smote..Tham all to-chapped..As men don the flesh vppon the stal had.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1580 : There were stallis by þe strete stondyng for peopull, Werkmen into won, and þaire wares shewe, Bothe to selle and to se as þaim selfe lyked.
3.
(a) A compartment or seat in the choir of a church; also, the observance of singing the divine office in a church choir [last quot.]; (b) a seat of honor; a throne; also fig.; also, an ordinary bench or seat [quot.: c1460]; bishop ~, a bishop's raised seat; heven ~, the throne of heaven; king(es ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Monk Sees Virg.(Eg 2810)6 : Ilkane schall stande in stalles sere Be-fore oure lady autere dyʒte.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)143/20 : Þe couent, all-way standant in þare stallis, sall reherce þe same again thrise.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)144/24 : Þe priores sall cume & lede hir til þe stall, whare sho sal stande.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick359b : Nunnes in the ouere stalles shalle stande the while thoe in the nether stalles sytte.
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)145/8 : Þe madyn þat salbe mayde nun sal sit in þe quere a-pon a stole be-for þe priores stayle with hir prouese in hir hand.
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)149/37 : Þan sall scho be set in þe vttermest stale in þe quer.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4543 : Þe kirke of cupido is clenly a-rayed, Þe stallis & in all stedis strowid with Rose.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)119b : A Stall in the Chirche: Stacio, Stallum, staciuncula, ferculum.
- a1500 Form Conf.(2) (Nero A.3)301 : I haue not kepyd the statuts of oure order, specyally the hede vowes of religion..wylfull pouerte, with all other observance of the order, as syght, sylence, and cell, the stall and bell, inclinacyons, veneis, and prostracyons.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8582 : Ierusalem mast he luued of all þar was he sett in king [Frf: kingis] stall.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11256 : Honurs him, for-qui he sal Be sett in dauid king stall.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)18810 : Þere ihesus god & mon wiþ alle, So heʒe is set in heuen stalle.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)383 : Sette ek the rightful Pope uppon his stalle..Maintene lawe, and so the pes schal stonde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1865 : Whan a man trusteth..On þis goddesse..Þan sche to hym is most deceyueable Hym to abate from his rayal [read: royal] stalle.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)128/67 : Þar als a god he sat in stall.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Hrl 1766)9.3452 : Famous prynces..wer vnwarly cast from ther royal stallys.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13592 : Ioas for þer kyng þei ta, and sett hym in kyng Dauid stall.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2030 : Saint Aydane..was sett in bischop stall.
- ?1457 Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204:Hammond)236/125 : Sygismounde..had his stall vpon the kynges lifte honde.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2201 : He sat hym down sofftly on a stall, Semyvif for sorow, & lenyd to the wall.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)169/111 : What ioy is me to here A lad to sesse my stall!
- a1500 Bevis (Cmb Ff.2.38)70/316 : He..set hym at mete yn knyʒtes stalle.
4.
(a) A fixed place; a position; bi stepe and ~, anywhere and everywhere; bi (in) strete and ~, everywhere; in ~ or stede, in any place whatsoever; in stede and (in) ~, everywhere; in any place whatsoever; always, in every situation; on stede or on ~, in any place whatsoever, under any circumstances; bringen to durham ~, to translate (bones) to Durham; (b) bringen to ~, to settle an affair; also, subdue (sb.); bring (sth.) to a conclusion; drauen a (?on) ~, come to a standstill, hold firm; grounden (holden, maken, werken) ~, hold firm, make a stand, stand one's ground; kepen a (the) ~, kepen at ~, make a stand, hold firm; stonden in ~, remain in place; hold position; taken ~, make a stop; taken a tre to ~, use a tree for fortification.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11854 : Witt tu þatt te laþe gast Aʒʒ eggeþþ hise þeowwess..To beon abufenn oþre menn I stalless & i sætess.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)37/315 : Þi leouemon..is mitte eauer ihwer istude & istalle.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)377 : Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man ðat oðer biswikeð on stede er on stalle, stille er lude.
- a1325 Heil beo þou Marie Mylde (StJ-C S.30)31 : Þou be in stude & stalle þer i draue to ded.
- c1390 Bi a wey (Vrn)118 : In heuene-blisse is maad vr stal, To Riche & pore þat lowe wol loute Euer to þonke God of al.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)396 : Þe sterns..we may se..In þe ouermast element of all, þer þe fir he has his stall.
- a1425(?a1400) Penny (Glb E.9)86 : He þat sir peni es with all sal haue his will in stede and stall.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)316 : Lord Jhesu, to ʒou I bydde..Þat I may folwe, be strete and stalle, Þe aungyl þat cam fro heuene trone.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2896 : Now þou muste wende On myn erdyn, be steppe and stalle.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3854 : He was..stalworthest in stede and stall.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6994 : Alured broght þaim [bones] to durham stall.
- a1475 Have all (Brog 2.1)31 : Where-soo-euyre I be in stall or stede, Have all my hert and be in peys.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)19/375 : In hell I wote mon be my stall.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)33/345 : The planettis seuen left has thare stall.
- a1500 Now rightwis Iuge (Corp-O 274)18 : Defend my saule I be noʒt seke..in thi servis for to be meke, & duelle with þe in stede & stall.
- a1500 RHood & M.(Cmb Ff.5.48)st.89 : Robyn Hode is euer bond to hym, Bothe in strete and stalle.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)837 : Þa Freinsce weoren isturmede, & noðelas heo stal makeden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10625 : Þa isæh Arður..whar Colgrim at-stod & æc stal wrohte.
- a1350(1265) BLewes (Hrl 2253)17 : Wiþ hare sharpe swerdes he grounde þe stel.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11872 : As longe as she þe synne forhale, Þe deuyl helde ful stylle hys stale.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.146 : Now has he brought to stalle [F ad establye], his lond stabled redy.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.156 : I salle bring him to stalle, bot he mak me acquitance.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.327 : So long was þe trayne, or it wer brouht to stalle, It were to me grete payne forto telle it alle.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5077 : Eche man tok a tre to stal, As tristi as a castel wal.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14144 : Temese & Londone he passed al, At Wynchestre þer tok he stal.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)19781 : Ful fersly..they fowhten echon and of the Sesoignes slowen many on, that a stale they drowen wel faste.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)23197 : There a stale they kepten ful strong amyddis the hethene.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)123 : At pavelen..þe Erle of Dorʒet helde is stale, and þer he toke prisoners.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)214/28 : For ony stowre that ever ye se us bestadde, stondys in your stale and sterte ye no ferther.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)235/9 : Sir Florens..shall here abyde for to kepe the stale as a knyght noble.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)286 : Than com Gaheries..and sette on hem full of Ire..and slowgh and kepte at stall a longe while, but in the fyn he mote yeve grounde a litill.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.407 : Whiche stode in stale not ferre from the castell, But viii thousande to whom the castelleyns Came anone out.
5.
In phrases with stonden v.: help, use, avail; stonden (in) no ~, ne stonden ~, to be of no use; stonden gret ~, be of great help, be a tower of strength; stonden him muchel (no) ~, be of much (no) use to him; stonden in litel ~, stand (sb.) in little stead; stonden muchel in ~, be of much use, avail much.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1632 : Þu neure mon to gode Lives ne deaþes stal ne stode.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)200 : Hwoso cuþe hit to þan ende, hit wolde him stonde muchel stel.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)27/746 : Þe bone þat swych prest þer byʒt No stel ne schel hym stonde.
- c1400(1399) Þer is a busch (Bagot)p.365 : The bag is ful of roton corne..hit wille stonde no stalle.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2749 : Gret stal [LinI: in gret stude] he stood; Amonge hem alle was non so good.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)350 : Enuye and wrath..Shal stand a man in litel stalle When he is clothed in a clowte.
- a1450 Liber Cophonis (Add 34111)53/424 : For þe strangylion..Tak euerfarne and turbintyne..and þe seede of coluerfote and of percily and euforbium..and ʒif þis stond in no stalle, Tak malewu and salt water and lynsede and seþe alle þes to gyder, [etc.].
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.43 : Sum curtas mon ʒette may he fynde That mekille may stonde in stalle.
6.
(a) The act of standing; (b) a standing position; maken (reisen) on ~, to lift up (an elephant) to a standing position; stonden in ~, remain in a standing position; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12868 : Þa twa þatt stodenn bi Johan Off hise Lerninngcnihhtess, Þeʒʒ tacnenn uss þurrh þeʒʒre stall Þatt baþe wærenn gode.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18433 : He stanndeþþ wel & rihht I stall off soþ mecnesse & nohht ne falleþþ hefiʒ fall Off modiʒnessess lawe.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)537-9 : Manie & mikle cume ðer secande wenen him [a fallen elephant] on stalle maken, oc for ðe helpe of hem alle ne mai he cumen so on stalle.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)547 : Ðis elp he reisen on stalle.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)104 : Þer-fore of face so fere He stiʒtlez stif in stalle.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)107 : Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng his-seluen.
7.
(a) A state, condition; (b) fig. in epithet for the Virgin; -- perh. with pun on sense 1. (a).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)6/41 : Ant nis hat [read: ha]..in to þeowdom idrahen, þe of se swiðe heh stal, of se muche dignete & swuch wurðsjchipe as hit is to beo godes spuse.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)34/312 : Ha liuieð..eauer mare in a steal [Roy: stel], in al þet eauer god is, wiðute wonunge.
b
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)27 : Heil hope of help to heihe and lowe, Heil strengþe and stal of stabelnesse, Heil wyndouwe of heuene-wowe.
8.
A band of armed men, esp. one posted in a particular place for ambush; a troop or company of soldiers; fliinge ~, a mobile body of troops able to move rapidly to any part of the battlefield as needed.
Associated quotations
- (1423) RParl.4.198b : The said Calagh wyth his men..oftymys roode..somtyme levyng yare stale wyth in ye said Lordship, robbyng, slayng, and distruyng the Kynges liege Peple.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9647 : In-myddis the feld ther standis her stale [rime: dale].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4134 : Thre stalis ware stroyede be strenghe of hym one.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)11415 : Be-twixen the wode and the revere there here Stale they rested & kepte.
- a1470 Ordin.War Hen.V in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)466 : Also, that noman departe fro the stale withoute leve..of his lord.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)237/21 : Therefore I woll nat styrre wyth my stale half my steede length but yf they be stadde wyth more stuff than I se hem agaynste.
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.417 : And ther may ye..bete the forestes of Boyne & Haynge, with fotemen in tho two erledomes with fleynge stales to releue theym.
- -?- Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2491 fn. : That no maner man goe for no forage but it be with a stale.
9.
In misc. cpds.: (a) hed ~, part of a horse's harness fitting on the head; (b) fot ~, ?a track or print.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1330) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100519 : In 4 capistris cum Hedstall de rubeo..pro equis carecte Prioris.
- (1331-2) Doc.Manor in MP 3454 : Heuedstal.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57264 : Item, for a hedstalle for the taberet, iiij d.
- (1466-7) Acc.Howard in RC 57389 : Item, fore iiij hedstalles, xvj d.
b
- c1475 My dere sone wher (RwlPoet 143)500 : Whan he [hare] rennes in a wey dri oþer wete, þer men mon finde þe fote stalles of þe clees of hire fete.
10.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.142, 150].
Associated quotations
a
- (1292) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames331 : Adam de Stalmyn.
- (1296) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames17 : Rob. atte Borstalle.
- (1307) Let.Bk.Lond.C (Gldh LetBk C)179 : William atte Stales.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames17 : Joc. atte Borstalle.
- (1332) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms63 : Joh. atte Garthstall.
- (1467) Paston2.567 : Harry Wynstall.
b
- (a1128) Chart.Nhb.in Archiv 111283 : Wite ge þæt..Haliwarestelle ic habbe getyðed Sancte Cuhtberht his agen into his cyrce.
- (1162) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)141 : Chirchestal.
- (1205) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)141 : Chirkestall.
- (1295) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)360 : Vinstal-stude.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)343 : Scepestal.
- (1300) EPNSoc.55 (Stf.)18 : Smethestall.
- (1327) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)77 : Costalle.
- (1368) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)360 : Le Vynestallstede.
- (1420) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.340 : [John Baret, vicar of the church of St. Mary] de Stalles.
- (1465) EPNSoc.55 (Stf.)18 : Smethestall.