stall vs stay

stall

verb
  • To employ delaying tactics; to stall for time. 

  • To put (an animal, etc.) in a stall. 

  • To fatten. 

  • To cause to exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift. 

  • To forestall; to anticipate. 

  • To stop suddenly. 

  • To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install. 

  • To keep close; to keep secret. 

  • To cause to stop making progress; to hinder; to slow down; to delay or forestall. 

  • To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix. 

  • To cause the engine of a manual-transmission car or truck to stop by going too slowly for the selected gear. 

  • To come to a standstill. 

  • To exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift. 

  • To employ delaying tactics against. 

noun
  • A church office that entitles the incumbent to the use of a church stall. 

  • A sheath to protect the finger. 

  • A compartment for a single animal in a stable or cattle shed. 

  • Loss of lift due to an airfoil's critical angle of attack being exceeded, normally occurring due to low airspeed. 

  • An Heathen altar, typically an indoor one, as contrasted with a more substantial outdoor harrow. 

  • A seat in a theatre close to and (about) level with the stage; traditionally, a seat with arms, or otherwise partly enclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc. 

  • A small open-fronted shop, for example in a market, food court, etc. 

  • A stable; a place for cattle. 

  • A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale. 

  • A seat in a church, especially one next to the chancel or choir, reserved for church officials and dignitaries. 

  • The space left by excavation between pillars. 

  • A very small room used for a shower or a toilet. 

  • A parking stall; a space for a vehicle in a parking lot or parkade. 

  • An action that is intended to cause, or actually causes, delay. 

stay

verb
  • To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder. 

  • To live; reside 

  • To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays. 

  • To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back. 

  • To brace or support with a stay or stays 

  • To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide. 

  • To continue to have a particular quality. 

  • To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship. 

  • To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power. 

  • To restrain; withhold; check; stop. 

  • To hold the attention of. 

  • To cause to cease; to put an end to. 

  • To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady. 

  • To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time. 

  • To tack; put on the other tack. 

adv
  • Steeply. 

adj
  • Steep; ascending. 

  • Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer. 

  • Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud. 

  • (of a roof) Steeply pitched. 

noun
  • A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element. 

  • Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time. 

  • A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing. 

  • A corset. 

  • Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. 

  • A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence. 

  • A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel. 

  • The transverse piece in a chain-cable link. 

  • A prop; a support. 

  • A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment. 

  • A station or fixed anchorage for vessels. 

How often have the words stall and stay occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )