English
thumbstall
Compound of thumb + stall.
Proto-Indo-European *tūm- ‘to grow’
Proto-Germanic *þūmô
Proto-West Germanic *þūmō
Old English þūma
Middle English thombe
English thumb
Proto-Indo-European *stel- ‘to place, put, post, stand’
Proto-Germanic *stallaz ‘standing, position, stall, stable’
Old English steall ‘standing place, position’
Middle English stall
English stall
Today it means
noun A utensil, consisting of a plate or boss with small depressions, used to push a needle by the action of the thumb; thimble.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / thumbstall