Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Mall?

\Mall\ (m[add]l; 277), n. [Written also {maul}.] [OE. malle, F. mail, L. malleus. Cf. {Malleus}.] 1. A large heavy wooden beetle; a mallet for driving anything with force; a maul. --Addison. 2. A heavy blow. [Obs.] --Spenser. 3. An old game played with malls or mallets and balls. See {Pall-mall}. --Cotton. 4. A place where the game of mall was played. Hence: A public walk; a level shaded walk. Part of the area was laid out in gravel walks, and planted with elms; and these convenient and frequented walks obtained the name of the City Mall. --Southey.
\Mall\ (m[add]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Malled} (m[add]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Malling}.] [Cf. OF. mailler. See {Mall} beetle, and cf. {Malleate}.] To beat with a mall; to beat with something heavy; to bruise; to maul.
\Mall\ (m[a^]l), n. [LL. mallum a public assembly; cf. OHG. mahal assembly, transaction; akin to AS. m[ae][eth]el, me[eth]el, assembly, m[=ae]lan to speak, Goth. ma[thorn]l market place.] Formerly, among Teutonic nations, a meeting of the notables of a state for the transaction of public business, such meeting being a modification of the ancient popular assembly. Hence: (a) A court of justice. (b) A place where justice is administered. (c) A place where public meetings are held. Councils, which had been as frequent as diets or malls, ceased. --Milman.