stall 2 
(stôl)
(stôl)n.
A ruse or tactic used to mislead or delay.
v. stalled, stall·ing, stalls
v.tr.
To employ delaying tactics against: stall off creditors.
v.intr.
To employ delaying tactics: stalling for time.
[Alteration (influenced by STALL1) of obsolete stale, pickpocket's accomplice, from Middle English, decoy, from Anglo-Norman estale, of Germanic origin; possibly akin to Old English stǣl, stathol, place, position; see STADDLE.]