a. Also 6 staulfed, stalfed, (7 stale feed). [f. STALL sb.1 + FED a.] Of an animal to be fattened: Kept and fed in a stall.
1554. J. Bradford, Lett., in Coverdale, Lett. Martyrs (1564), 326. If you were for the Faire, you shoulde bee staulfed and wante no weale.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., xxxiii. For Easter, at Martilmas hange vp a biefe: for pease fed and stall fed, play pickpurse the thiefe.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIV. 161. The load of one Beast, (the most fat, and best Of all the Stall-fed) to the Woers Feast.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 173/2. We call a fat Ox, a stale feed Ox.
1777. Mass. Statute, 25 Jan. Stall-fed beef, well fatted, at fourpence a pound.
1890. Farmer’s Gaz., 4 Jan., 1/1. Stall-fed cattle will now be on full keep.
b. transf. Of a person.
1589. Greene, Masqverado, Wks. (Grosart), V. 243. Monkes, Friers,.. stall-fed with ease, and gluttony.
1626. B. Jonson, Staple of News, I. vi. You shall haue stall-fed Doctors, cram’d Diuines Make loue to her.
1635. Brereton, Trav. (1844), 51. We saw a man … so stall-fed as that his legs were not able to support and carry his body.
1895. W. James, in Will to Believe, etc. (1904), 43. There were times … when stall-fed officials of an established church could prove by the valves in the heart [etc.].
