mall

plural malls

1. AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandUScountableuncountableA pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct.First known use 20th c.

   The preliminary plans provide for one million square feet of selling space in three main buildings and a double row of shops along a central shopping mall.

   1950 August 15, Philip Hampson, “Field's Plans 15 to 20 Million Shopping Center for Skokie”, in Chicago Daily Tribune, page 1

   1 more example

   America′s first pedestrianized shopping mall opened in 1959 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Like most later pedestrian malls, it was intended to revive what everybody thought was a decaying downtown.

   2002, Alexander Garvin, The American City: What Works, What Doesn′t, page 179

2. countableuncountableAn enclosed shopping centre.First known use 20th c.

   Cancel plans just in case you'd call / And say, "Meet me behind the mall"

   2020, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, “August”, in Folklore

   2 more examples

   Every day, at about the time the rest of us go to work, groups of retirees gather at many of America′s enclosed shopping malls.

   2004, Ralph E. Warner, Get a Life: You Don′t Need a Million to Retire Well, unnumbered page

   Such a fate seemed impossible when the mall opened its doors in 1969. Hailed by its founders as “the U.S.’s largest enclosed shopping center,” the building featured an ice-skating rink, a $125,000 clock tower that hosted puppet shows, and more than 100 stores and businesses.

   2026 June 30, Brian Raftery, Ross Mantle, “Horror Fans Bid a Bittersweet Farewell to an Empty Mall Full of Zombies”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

3. countableobsoleteuncountableAn alley where the game of pall mall was played.First known use 17th–19th c.
4. countableuncountableA public walk; a level shaded walk, a promenade.First known use 18th c.

   Part of the area was laid out in gravel walks, and planted with elms; and these convenient and frequented walks obtained the name of the City Mall.

   1820, Robert Southey, The Life of Wesley; and Rise and Progress of Methodism

5. countableuncountableA heavy wooden mallet or hammer used in the game of pall mall.First known use 17th c.

   I also fell slightly; but his fall proving a severe one, he arose in wrath, and struck me with the mall which he held in his hand, until my blood flowed copiously […]

   1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

6. countableobsoleteuncountableThe game of polo.First known use 17th c.
7. countableobsoleteuncountableAn old game played with malls or mallets and balls; pall mall.First known use 17th–19th c.

   But playing with the Boy ar Mall, (I rue the Time, and ever shall) I struck the Ball, I know not how

   1675, Charles Cotton, Burlesque upon Burlesque

present singular third person malls · participle present malling · participle past malled · past malled

1. to beat with a mall, or mallet; to beat with something heavy; to bruise
2. to build up with the development of shopping malls
3. informalto shop at the mall