(hôlt) noun
A complete stop, or cessation of progress in any movement, as of marching troops.
—to call a halt To put a stop to, or demand that something be stopped.
—v.t. & v.i. To stop; bring or come to a halt. See synonyms under REST¹, STAND. [<F halte <G halt, orig. imperative of halten stop]

(hôlt) v.i.
1. To be imperfect; proceed lamely, as verse or logic.
2. To be in doubt; waver.
3. Archaic To walk with a limp; hobble.
—adjective Archaic Crippled; limping in gait; lame.
—noun Archaic The act of limping; lameness. [OE healt lame]
—halt′ing adjective
—halt′ing·ly adverb
—halt′ing·ness noun