[f. FORESTALL v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. FORESTALL.
† 1. The action of obstructing a person in the highway or a deer on its way back to the forest.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 95. Forstallynge, wrong oþer let i-doo in þe kynges hiȝe weie.
1544. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 54 b. Yf by suche forstallynge and manassynge he that hath Rent charge or Rent secke is forstalled.
1570–6. Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent (1826), 178. For their service at the Sea were acquitted of all actions and customes of charge, except fellonie, breach of the peace, and forstalling.
1594. Crompton, Auth. & Jurisd. Crts., 153 b. Mes si le cheine per chaunce obuie vn Dame et luy tue, ceo nest forestalling.
2. The buying up of goods beforehand, etc.
1548. Cranmer, Catech., 77. By forstalling, regratyng, agreements in haules to raise the price of thinges.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Burrow Lawes, 141. That na man of quhat estate he be may repledge his man, for foristallinge fra the Court of the burgh.
1735. Kirby, Suffolk Trav. (1764), 53. The Practice of Forestalling is carried to such a Height, as would persuade us no Laws had ever been made against it.
1800. A. Addison, Amer. Law Rep., 27. Usury is a political evil, a forestalling of money, and oppressive to people in distress.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., App., 379. Many restrictions were, however, laid upon trade, and edicts were directed against forestalling, that is, transacting any business before the opening of the fair.
3. The action of being before or beforehand with some one or something else; anticipation.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, I. xvi. 112. He was not tempted with the choyce cleannesse of her [the Swan’s] feathers; nor with her fore-stalling of death, and singing her owne obsequies.
1782. Paine, Lett. Abbé Raynal, Introd. (1791), p. iv. But the forestalling the Abbe’s publication by London editions, both in French and English, and thereby not only defrauding him and throwing an expensive publication on his hands by anticipating the sale, are only the smaller injuries which such conduct may occasion.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., v. 95. A proud forestalling of misery, such as we have just spoken of, ordinarily combines itself with the consciousness of guilt and the dread of retribution.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. v. 315. Except that other means of destruction must have been intended, this sounds very like a forestalling of the Gunpowder Plot.
† 4. The action of appropriating beforehand. Obs.
1655. Fuller, The Church-History of Britain, III. ix. § 26. 115. Such forestalling of Livings to Forrainers was forbidden.
