stonewall

v. intr.

1) A Parliamentary term:to make use of the forms of the House so as to delay publicbusiness.

2) To obstruct business at any meeting, chiefly by long-windedspeeches.

3) To play a slow game at cricket, blocking balls rather thanmaking runs.

1876. `Victorian Hansard,' Jan., vol. xxii. p. 1387:

«Mr. G. Paton Smith wished to ask the honourable member forGeelong West whether the six members sitting beside him (Mr.Berry) constituted the `stone wall' that had been spoken of?Did they constitute the stone wall which was to oppose allprogress – – to prevent the finances being dealt with and thebusiness of the country carried on? It was like bullyBottom's stone wall. It certainly could not be a very highwall, nor a very long wall, if it only consisted of six.»

1884. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. iii. p. 405:

«Abusing the heroic words of Stonewall Jackson, the Oppositionapplied to themselves the epithet made famous by the gallantConfederate General.»

1894. `The Argus,' Jan. 26, p. 3, col. 5:

«The Tasmanians [sc. cricketers] do not as a rule stonewall.»