Having great or more than average height; extending upward to a considerable degree.
From Old English 'getæl' meaning 'swift, ready, prompt'. Interestingly, the meaning shifted from 'quick/agile' to 'high in stature' around the 14th century, possibly influenced by the idea of standing ready or upright.
The word 'tall' originally had nothing to do with height but meant 'quick' or 'bold' - a semantic shift that shows how physical and mental attributes were once conceptually linked. A 'tall tale' preserves this older meaning of 'bold' or 'extravagant'.
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