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Webster 1913 Edition

Tall

Tall

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Taller
;
sup
erl.
Tallest
.]
[OE.
tal
seemly, elegant, docile (?); of uncertain origin; cf. AS. un-
tala
, un-
tale
, bad, Goth. un
tals
indocile, disobedient, uninstructed, or W. & Corn.
tal
high, Ir.
talla
meet, fit, proper, just.]
1.
High in stature; having a considerable, or an unusual, extension upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter or lateral extent small in proportion to the height;
as, a
tall
person, tree, or mast
.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and
tall
.
Milton.
2.
Brave; bold; courageous.
[Obs.]
As
tall
a trencherman
As e’er demolished a pye fortification.
Massinger.
His companions, being almost in despair of victory, were suddenly recomforted by Sir William Stanley, which came to succors with three thousand
tall
men.
Grafton.
3.
Fine; splendid; excellent; also, extravagant; excessive.
[Obs. or Slang]
B. Jonson.
Syn. – High; lofty.
–
Tall
,
High
,
Lofty
. High is the generic term, and is applied to anything which is elevated or raised above another thing. Tall specifically describes that which has a small diameter in proportion to its height; hence, we speak of a tall man, a tall steeple, a tall mast, etc., but not of a tall hill. Lofty has a special reference to the expanse above us, and denotes an imposing height;
as, a
lofty
mountain; a
lofty
room
. Tall is now properly applied only to physical objects; high and lofty have a moral acceptation;
as,
high
thought, purpose, etc.
; lofty aspirations; a lofty genius. Lofty is the stronger word, and is usually coupled with the grand or admirable.

Webster 1828 Edition

Tall

TALL

,
Adj.
[Eng. dally; L. tollo.]
1.
High in stature; long and comparatively slender; applied to a person, or to a standing tree, mast or pole. Tall always refers to something erect, and of which the diameter is small in proportion to the highth. We say, a tall man or woman, a tall boy for his age; a tall tree, a tall pole, a tall mast; but we never say, a tall house or a tall mountain. The application of the word to a palace or its shadow, in Waller, is now improper.
Dark shadows cast, and as his palace tall.
2.
Sturdy; lusty; bold. [Unusual.]

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