Stonewall

Pronunciation

Full definition of stonewall

Noun

1. A refusal to cooperate.

Verb

1. (informal) To refuse to answer or cooperate, especially in supplying information.At the press conference, the Prime Minister appeared to be stonewalling when asked about tax increases.

Derived terms

• stonewaller

Adjective

1. (UK, idiomatic) Certain, stone cold.
• Martin Smith, Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2007:Fortune favoured the fortunate when Martin Atkinson ignored a stonewall penalty
• Gordon Parks, Daily Record, 13 January 2011:Lennon also pointed to a booking for Niall McGinn for diving as a stonewall penalty to add to his grievances.

Usage notes

Most often encountered in sports, in reference to refereeing decisions; apparently a corruption of "stone cold".