mall
mall Lexical Profile
mall Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A large, typically enclosed shopping center containing a variety of stores, businesses, and restaurants connected by pedestrian walkways.
"Teenagers frequently gathered at the local mall on weekends to browse the shops and eat at the food court."
A shaded public walkway or promenade, historically associated with the playing of the game pall-mall.
"Couples strolled leisurely down the tree-lined mall enjoying the mild autumn weather."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North America, 'mall' predominantly refers to a large, enclosed shopping center, whereas in British English and historical contexts, it frequently denotes a tree-lined public promenade or a pedestrianized shopping street.
• Rhymes for mall
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'The Mall', a broad promenade in St. James's Park, London. The promenade was named after 'pall-mall', a 16th-century croquet-like game played there, which comes from the Italian 'pallamaglio' (ball-mallet). By the mid-20th century, the term had evolved in North America to describe enclosed shopping centers.