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Definition 2024


Stonewall

Stonewall

See also: stonewall, stone-wall, and stone wall

English

Proper noun

Stonewall

  1. A series of riots in 1969 New York City, beginning with the patrons of the gay bar "The Stonewall Inn" resisting police arrest, which marked the beginning of the militant gay rights movement.
  2. Confederate general Thomas Jonathan Jackson.

stonewall

stonewall

See also: Stonewall, stone-wall, and stone wall

English

Noun

stonewall (plural stonewalls)

  1. A refusal to cooperate.
  2. Alternative spelling of stone wall
    • 1906, Annual Reports of the War Department, page 312:
      Stonewalls have been rebuilt along the piked portion of Taneytown road, along the east end of North Confederate avenue, and along Taneytown road south of Pleasonton avenue.
    • 2010, Derek Pomeroy Brereton, Campsteading, page 225:
      In the present day, New England's stonewalls are the lineaments of her former agrarian vitality.
    • 2011, Jack Mitchell, Angels of the Anasazi, page 140:
      Some had suggested that they build sloped stonewalls the entire length of the streambed. The stonewalls would keep the rushing water in a channel and prevent soil from washing away from the streambed walls.
    • 2012, Walter G. Robillard and Lane J. Bouman, Clark on Surveying and Boundaries, :
      There are remnants of a stonewall at the elm tree on Burrough Road. The aerial photograph shows the existence of a stonewall at the elm tree at least in 1964.

Verb

stonewall (third-person singular simple present stonewalls, present participle stonewalling, simple past and past participle stonewalled)

  1. (informal) To refuse to answer or cooperate, especially in supplying information.
    At the press conference, the Prime Minister appeared to be stonewalling when asked about tax increases.

Translations

Derived terms

Adjective

stonewall (not comparable)

  1. (Britain, idiomatic) Certain, stone cold.
    • Martin Smith, Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2007:
      Fortune favoured the fortunate when Martin Atkinson ignored a stonewall penalty.
    • Gordon Parks, Daily Record, 13 January 2011:
      Lennon also pointed to a booking for Niall McGinn for diving as a stonewall penalty to add to his grievances.

Usage notes

  • Most often encountered in sports, in reference to refereeing decisions; apparently a corruption of "stone cold".

Translations