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

1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse, s.v. Stale for foules takynge.

1548. Hall, Union, 'Hen. IV.', f. 31. He ordeined certain of his men to geve assaulte to the toune of Guisnes while he stode in a stale to lie in waite for the relefe that might come from Callis.

1577. Stanihurst, Descr. Ireland, 21. Laie in stale.

1577. Hellowes, Fr. of Guevara's Letters, 42. When he happened to fall into the stall of his enimies.

1588. Greene, Dorastus and Fawnia, 38. The lyon never prayeth on the mouse, nor faulcons stoupe not to dead stales. Ibid., Penitent Palmer's Ode. Her ivory front, her pretty chin, Were stales that drew me on to sin.

1590. Spenser, Fairy Queen, II. i. 4. Still as he went, his craftie stales did lay, With cunning traynes him to entrap unware. 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.

1593. Shakspeare, Com. 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.

1597. Bacon, Essays, xi. Profess it plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change, and do not think to steal it.

1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. 1. Make them stalls to his lewd solecisms and worded trash. Ibid. (1605), Fox, iv. 5. And with this strumpet, The stale to his forg'd practice. Ibid. (1611), Catiline. Dull stupid Lentulus, my stale with whom I stalk.

1610. Mirr. Mag., 366. This find I true, for as I lay in stale, To fight with the duke Richard's eldest son, I was destroy'd, not far from Dintingdale.

1622. Marmion, Holland's Leaguer, ii. 1. I'll make a stale, to take this courtier in a freak. Ibid. (1633), Fine Companion, iii. 4. Captain Whibble, the toun stale For all cheating employments.

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.

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

1688. Cap of Grey Hairs, &c., 96. If it be a solitary beauty you court, which as yet is intemerata virgo, so that none beside take to the scent, 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.

4. (old).—A common whore: see Tart.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, iv. 1. I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale.

1641. Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. Common stales to countenance every Politick Fetch that was then on foot.

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.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all [Hunt. Club Rept.], 39. Stawling-ken, a house to receive stolen goods.

1630. Taylor, Works, 'Brood of Cormorants,' 8. Lives like a gentleman by sleight of hand, Can play the foist, the nip, the stale, the stand.

1671. Head. English Rogue, 'Canting Song.' So she and I did stall and cloy whatever we could catch.