stonewall

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstəʊnwɔːl/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈstoʊnwɔl/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈstoʊnwɑl/ Hyphenation: stone‧wall === Etymology 1 === From Middle English stonwal, stone wall, stanewalle (“wall made of stone”), from Old English stānweall (“stonewall”), equivalent to stone +‎ wall. The alcoholic drink (sense 3) was perhaps named thus because its effect was as potent as running into a stone wall. ==== Noun ==== stonewall (plural stonewalls) (idiomatic) An obstruction. (idiomatic) A refusal to cooperate. (idiomatic, historical) An alcoholic drink popular in colonial America, consisting of apple cider (or sometimes applejack) mixed with rum (or sometimes gin or whisky). Alternative form of stone wall (“wall made of stone”). ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== stonewall (third-person singular simple present stonewalls, present participle stonewalling, simple past and past participle stonewalled) (transitive) To obstruct. (ambitransitive, informal) To refuse to answer or cooperate, especially in supplying information. ===== Derived terms ===== stonewaller stonewalling (noun) ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Apparently a corruption of stone cold. ==== Adjective ==== stonewall (not comparable) (UK) Certain, definite. ===== Usage notes ===== The word is most often encountered in sports contexts in reference to refereeing decisions. ===== Synonyms ===== stone cold ===== Translations ===== === References === === Anagrams === wallstone