subs. (old).—1.  A pretence, a fraud, a theft. As verb. = to deceive, to rob.  [?].  KENNETT, Lansdowne MS., 1033. f. 392. A STALE or pretence, a fraud or deceit.

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  1340.  The Ayenbyte of Inwyt [E.E.T.S.], 9. Ine þise heste is uorbode roberie, þiefþe, STALE, and gauel, and bargayn wyþ oþren.

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  2.  (old).—Any object of contempt, deception, or ridicule. As verb. = to ridicule or abuse.

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  c. 1400.  The Chester Plays (Shakespeare Society), i. 173.

        So shall you meete with that STALL,
That woulde my kingdome clayme and call.

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  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, i. 1.

          Kath.  I pray you, sir, is it your will
To make a STALE of me amongst these mates?

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  1620.  FLETCHER, The Little French Lawyer, iii. Are we made STALES to one another?

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  1633.  FORD, Love’s Sacrifices, ii. 1.

          Fior.        A subject fit
TO be the STALE of laughter!

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  1635.  RULTEN, The Shepheard’s Holyday, sig. G 1.

        All that is all I could do, for before
I could get earnest of any ones love,
To whom I made addresse, even she would say,
You have another mistresse, go to her;
I will not be her STALE.

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  3.  (old).—A decoy; a stalking horse: hence ambush. As verb. = to hide, to lie in wait, to ensnare.

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  1530.  PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse, s.v. STALE for foules takynge.

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  1548.  EDWARD HALL, Henry IV., f. 31. He ordeined certain of his men to geue assaulte to the toune of Guisnes while he stode in a STALE to lie in waite for the relefe that myght come from Caleis.

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  1577.  STANYHURST, Description of Ireland, 21. Laie in STALE.

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  1577.  E. HELLOWES, trans. The Familiar Epistles of Sir Anthony of Guevara, 43. When hee happened to fall into the STALE of his enemies.

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  1588.  GREENE, Dorastus and Fawnia, 38. The Lyon neuer prayeth on the mouse, nor Faulcons stoupe not to dead STALES.

            Ibid., The Penitent Palmers Ode, 17.
Her Iuorie front, her pretie chin,
Were STALES that drew me on to sin.

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  1590.  SPENSER, The Fairie Queene, II. i. 4.

        Still as he went, his craftie STALES did lay,
  With cunning traynes him to entrap unwares.
    Ibid. (1596), VI. x. 3.
  Would never more delight in painted show
  Of such false blisse, as there is set for STALES,
T’ entrap unwary fooles in their eternall bales.

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  1593.  SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, ii. 1.

        But, too unruly deer, he breaks the pale,
And feeds from home, poor I am but his STALE.
    Ibid., iii. 2. ’Twere good to STEAL our marriage.
    Ibid. (1609), Tempest, iv. 1.
The trumpery in my house, go, bring it hither,
For STALE, to catch these thieves.

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  1597.  BACON, Essays, xi, ‘Of Great Place.’ Profess it plainly, and declare it, together with the Reasons that move thee to change, and do not think to STEAL it.

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  1601.  JONSON, The Poetaster, iii. 1.

                    Make them STALLS
To his lewd solecisms, and worded trash.
    Ibid. (1605), Volpone, or the Fox, iv. 5.
            And, with this strumpet,
The STALE to his forged practice.
    Ibid. (1611), Catiline.
            Dull stupid Lentulus,
My STALE with whom I stalk.

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  1619.  The Falles of Vnfortunate Princes, 366.

        This find I true, for as I LAY IN STALE
To fight with the Duke Richards eldest son,
I was destroy’d not far from Dintingdale.

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  1622.  MARMION, Hollands Leaguer, ii. 1.

                        Her I’ll make
A STALE, to take this courtier in a freak.
    Ibid. (1633), A Fine Companion, iii. 4.
  Fid.  Sir, this is Captain Whibble, the town STALE,
For all cheating employments.

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  1626.  FLETCHER, Wit at Several Weapons, ii. 2.

        Why, thou wert but the Bait to fish with, not
The Prey; the STALE to catch another bird with.

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  1640.  BRATHWAITE, The Two Lancashire Lovers, iv. 21. Must an husband be made a STALE to sinne, or an inlet to his owne shame?

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  1672.  A Cap of Gray Hairs for a Green Head, 102. If it be a solitary beauty you Court, which as yet is intemerata virgo; so that none besides take to the sent; she will not long be so: for your attendance will be but like the Fowlers STALE, the appearance of which brings but others to the Net.

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  4.  (old).—A common whore: see TART.

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  1600.  SHAKESPEARE, Much Ado about Nothing, iv. 1.

        I stand dishonour’d, that have gone about
To link my dear friend to a common STALE.

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  1641.  MILTON, Reformation in England, i. Common STALES to countenance … every Politick Fetch that was then on foot.

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  5.  (old cant).—An accomplice: ‘a STALE for a foist or pickpocket’: now (also STALL) a confederate working either before (FRONT-STALL or FORE-STALL) or behind (BACK-STALL) the actual thief, to cover his movements, and assist in his escape (see quot. 1785): also STALLSMAN. As verb. = to screen: also TO CHUCK A STALL, and TO STALL OFF; also to FENCE (q.v.); whence STALLING-KEN = a mart for stolen goods (HARMAN, B. E., and GROSE): also (HARMAN) = ‘a tippling-house.’ Also TO STALL OFF = to excuse plausibly; to escape wilily.

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  1610.  ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, 39 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. STAWLING-KEN, a house to receive stolen goods.

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  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ‘Brood of Cormorants,’ 8.

        Liues like a Gentleman by sleight of hand,Can play the Foist, the Nip, the STALE, the Stand.

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  1671.  R. HEAD, The English Rogue, ‘Canting Song.’

        So she and I did STALL, and cloy,
Whatever we could catch.

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  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. STALL-UP. To STALL a person up … is to surround him in a crowd, or in the open street, force his arms up, and keep them in that position while others of the gang rifle his pockets at pleasure, the cove being unable to help or defend himself; this is what the newspapers denominate hustling, practised where the general anxiety to push forward, or to obtain a view, forms a pretext for jostling.

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  1827.  BULWER-LYTTON, Pelham, lxxxiii. Plant your stumps, Master Guinea Pig; you are going to STALL OFF the Daw’s baby in prime twig.

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  1884.  GREENWOOD, Seven Years’ Penal Servitude. I said to my pal, ‘CHUCK ME A STALL and I’ll have that.’ What did I mean? Why, keep close to me and cover what I’m doing.

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  1885.  Daily Telegraph, 12 Nov. Lovely drew out, and STALLING OFF the challenge of the ungenerous Duke of Richmond won by two lengths.

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  TO STALL ONE’S MUG, verb. phr. (old).—To be off.

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  TO STALL A DEBT, verb. phr. (old).—To forbear it.

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  See STALL.

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