Obs. In 3 stalnett, 6 stalnette, 7 stale-net, stall nett. [Prob. f. STALL sb.1; cf. STALL-BOAT.] A stationary net laid across a river, esp. for sprat-fishing.
1246. Charter Roll 31 Hen. III. m. 13 in Cal. (1903), 310. [To fish in] hetun, dreynett, flodnett et stalnett.
1552. Huloet, Stalnette, semiplagium.
1614. T. Gentleman, Englands Way, 19. These men do set forth stale-boates, amongst the sands in the Theames mouth, for to take sprats, with great stale-nets, with a great poake.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, VI. (1704), 524/2. They are entrapped by the Stale Nets, that use to take the Sprats.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xxii. (Roxb.), 276/2. The Fourth is termed a Stall Nett; these are netts of great length and breadth which are generally layd cross a River.