ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stall

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈstɔɫ// UK //stˈɔːl// stall Archaic General-service

n. a small shop or table in a market where people sell things. You can find them at street fairs or food markets.

n. a temporary stand, booth, or table used for the sale of goods in a market or public space.


SIMPLE

She buys fresh bread from a market stall every Saturday.

CONTEXTUAL

The local farmers set up their stalls early in the morning to sell seasonal vegetables to the public.

COMPLEX

While the high street shops remained empty, the vibrant market stalls thrived by offering unique handmade crafts and locally sourced produce that appealed to tourists.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English stall, stalle, from Old English steall (“standing place, position”), from Proto-Germanic stallaz, from Proto-Indo-European stel- (“to place, put, post, stand”). Cognate with French étal, Italian stallo, German Stall, Swedish stall.

Etymology 2

From Middle English stallen (“to abide, dwell, place in a location, stop, come to a standstill”), partly from Old French estaler, ultimately from the same origin as Etymology 1 (see above); and partly from Middle English stalle (“fixed position, stall”).

Usage

Often used with 'market' or 'food' as a modifier.

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference