stall
STAWL
/stɔːl/
A stand, booth, or compartment for the sale of goods in a market or large building.
Refers to a temporary or semi-permanent structure, often open-fronted.
The story behind the word. From the Old English 'steall', meaning a standing place or a stable. It originally referred to a place where cattle stood, later evolving to mean a place where a trader stands to sell goods.
Word relationships
- booth: A booth is often more enclosed or used for information/services rather than just goods.
- stand: A stand is a very simple structure, often just a table.
- department store: A large, permanent retail establishment.
Commonly confused with
- stall: As a verb, 'stall' means to delay or stop progress, which is unrelated to the market noun.
Collocations
- market stall
- book stall
- street stall
Example sentences
- "We spent the morning browsing the vegetable stalls at the local farmers' market." Describing a market visit.
- "There was a long queue at the refreshment stall during the halftime break." Describing a fair.
Memory hook
A 'stall' is where a seller 'stands' still. A place to stand and sell.
When not to use
Do not use for a large, permanent brick-and-mortar shop.
Fun facts
- In British English, 'the stalls' also refers to the ground-floor seats in a theater.
Explore more words
dilatory, stonewall, prevaricate, evasion, prevarication, forestall
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