halt 1
/hawlt/ , v.i.
1. to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily: They halted for lunch and strolled about.
v.t.
2. to cause to stop temporarily or permanently; bring to a stop: They halted operations during contract negotiations.
n.
3. a temporary or permanent stop.
interj.
4. (used as a command to stop and stand motionless, as to marching troops or to a fleeing suspect.)
[ 1615-25; from the phrase make halt for G halt machen. See HOLD 1 ]
Syn. 2. See stop. 3. cessation, suspension, standstill, stoppage.
halt 2
— haltless , adj.
/hawlt/ , v.i.
1. to falter, as in speech, reasoning, etc.; be hesitant; stumble.
2. to be in doubt; waver between alternatives; vacillate.
3. Archaic. to be lame; walk lamely; limp.
adj.
4. Archaic. lame; limping.
n.
5. Archaic. lameness; a limp.
6. ( used with a pl. v. ) lame people, esp. severely lamed ones (usually prec. by the ): the halt and the blind.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE healt; c. OHG halz, ON haltr, Goth halts, akin to L clades damage, loss ]