stonewallingadj.
/ˈstəʊnwɔːlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈstoʊnˌwɔlɪŋ/, /ˈstoʊnˌwɑlɪŋ/, Australian English /ˈstoʊnˌwɔːlɪŋ/ That stonewalls (in various senses of stonewall v.).
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > [adjective] > embarrassed
stonewalling1876
1876 S. Austral. Reg. (Adelaide) 21 Jan. 6/1 The past week may be summed up in this—stonewalling minority rampant; Government moodily firm; business at a dead stop.
1902 Daily Chron. 23 Apr. 3/2 Of ‘stone-walling’ cricketers, Lord Granville [Gordon] entertains a very poor opinion.
1990 New Age Jrnl. July 18/4 Combine a stonewalling husband with a distant, disgusted wife, the researchers say, and you've got a sure-fire recipe for divorce.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2022).
stonewallingn.
/ˌstəʊnˈwɔːlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌstoʊnˈwɔlɪŋ/, /ˌstoʊnˈwɑlɪŋ/ (in sense 2)Brit. /ˈstəʊnwɔːlɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈstoʊnˌwɔlɪŋ/, /ˈstoʊnˌwɑlɪŋ/, Australian English /ˈstoʊnˌwɔːlɪŋ/ 1.
a. Usually as two words. Stone walls collectively; (also) a length of stone wall.
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the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > wall > stone wall
stonewallc825
boulder-walls1728
flint-wall1728
rock wall1755
rock fence1838
stone fence1844
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > wall > stone wall > collectively
stonewalling1714
1714 Answers Several Persons in Rep. Commissioners Spain 185 The Walls might have been so built for a Dollar more than what Brigadier Petit has charged for building a Rod of Stone Walling.
1875 Encycl. Brit. II. 388/2 Over this structure there was clearly another..as extensive remains of fine stone-walling still exist.
1978 P. Hyland Purbeck xxi. 154 The fields are stitched together with miles of stone walling.
2005 Heritage Mar. 52/2 The atmospheric Belas Knap Long Barrow, a 5,000 year-old Neolithic burial chamber with some neat prehistoric stone-walling still in place.
b. The process of building stone walls.
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1801 Lincoln, Rutland, & Stamford Mercury 21 Aug. Good Hands at Stone Walling may have Employ, and Wages according to Merit, by applying to John Chimley.
1930 Devon & Exeter Daily Gaz. 22 May 12/5 Great interest has been taken by a number of young men in instructional classes for Stonewalling and Hedging.
2010 R. Hattersley In Search of Eng. 199 Each summer weekend it is possible—for a modest £50—to learn ‘stonewalling’ by rebuilding them.
2. The action or practice of stonewall v. (in various senses); esp. persistent blocking or obstruction.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > types of batting
blocking1637
quilting1822
defence1825
cutting1827
forward play1828
defensive1832
swiping1833
back-cutting1842
straight play1843
back play1844
sticking1873
leg play1877
off-driving1884
gallery-hitting1888
goose game1899
straight driving1904
stroke-play1905
pad play1906
on-driving1948
stroke-making1956
1876 S. Austral. Reg. (Adelaide) 1 Jan. 5/7 As anticipated, the ‘stone-walling’ was not allowed to go on last week.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Sept. 1/2 It is for cricket such as this..that the opponents of stone-walling sigh.
1975 B. Donoughue Diary 6 Oct. in Downing St. Diary (2005) xx. 521 The PM has supported the joint minute which Joe and I put in on privacy... So we may get some action there, providing we can overcome any stonewalling in the Cabinet Office.
2003 N.Y. Times 4 May 16/1 The response was a mix of inept diagnoses, outright lies and, finally, stonewalling.
2016 N. Cowan Peregrine Spring i. 6 The stonewalling techniques of government departments.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2022).
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adj.1876n.1714