halt

n. [ Formerly alt, It. alto, G. halt, fr. halten to hold. See Hold. ] A stop in marching or walking, or in any action; arrest of progress. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without any halt they marched. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Lovers ] soon in passion's war contest,
Yet in their march soon make a halt. Davenant. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Halted; p. pr. & vb. n. Halting. ] 1. To hold one's self from proceeding; to hold up; to cease progress; to stop for a longer or shorter period; to come to a stop; to stand still. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stand in doubt whether to proceed, or what to do; to hesitate; to be uncertain. [ 1913 Webster ]

How long halt ye between two opinions? 1 Kings xviii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Mil.) To cause to cease marching; to stop; as, the general halted his troops for refreshment. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. healt; akin to OS., Dan., & Sw. halt, Icel. haltr, halltr, Goth. halts, OHG. halz. ] Halting or stopping in walking; lame. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. Luke xiv. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of limping; lameness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ OE. halten, AS. healtian. See Halt, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To walk lamely; to limp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have an irregular rhythm; to be defective. [ 1913 Webster ]

The blank verse shall halt for it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. halter, helter, helfter, AS. hælftre; akin to G. halfter, D. halfter, halster, and also to E. helve. See Helve. ] A strong strap or cord. Especially: (a) A rope or strap, with or without a headstall, for leading or tying a horse. (b) A rope for hanging malefactors; a noose. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

No man e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law. Trumbull. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Haltered p. pr. & vb. n. Haltering. ] To tie by the neck with a rope, strap, or halter; to put a halter on; to subject to a hangman's halter. “A haltered neck.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]