stonewall
stonewall Lexical Profile
stonewall Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To delay or obstruct a request, process, or investigation by refusing to answer questions or by being evasive and uncooperative.
"The company's executives attempted to stonewall the regulatory committee by withholding key financial documents."
British To bat purely defensively inorder to avoid getting out rather than attempting to score runs (in cricket).
"With two hours left on the final day, the tail-end batters decided to stonewall to salvage a draw."
• noun
An act or policy of delaying, obstructing, or refusing to answer questions or cooperate, especially in politics or an investigation.
"The reporters were met with a complete stonewall when they asked the spokesperson about the missing funds."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as a compound of 'stone' and 'wall', the verb originally arose in Australian cricket slang for playing purely defensively and in American politics for obstructing parliamentary proceedings, inspired in part by the nickname of Confederate General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson.