stalles

Stalles is a term that can refer to several related concepts centered on the idea of a defined, separated unit. In ecclesiastical architecture, stalles (often written as choir stalls in English) are the wooden seats arranged in rows in the choir of a church or cathedral. They accommodate clergy and choir members and are typically divided by carved misericords, frontals, and end panels. Medieval and Renaissance stalles are prized as examples of regional carving styles and liturgical function, and many cathedrals preserve extensive sequences of stalls dating to the period.

In general usage, a stall is a small, enclosed space used for selling goods or keeping animals, such as market stalls or stable stalls. The plural form takes the same meaning, and historical or non-English sources may render the plural as stalles, particularly when referring to the French term for choir stalls or to older English spellings.

As a proper noun, Stalles may appear as a surname or as part of a place name in some linguistic contexts, though it is not widely used as a standard geographic or personal name in contemporary reference works.

See also: stall, stalls, choir stalls.