Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - tall

 adjective  Etymology: Middle English tal, probably from Old English get?l quick, ready; akin to Old High German gizal quick  Date: 15th century  1. obsolete brave, courageous  2.  a. high in stature  b. of a specified height five feet ~  3.  a. of considerable height ~ trees  b. long from bottom to top a ~ book  c. of a higher growing variety or species of plant  4.  a. large or formidable in amount, extent, or degree a ~ order to fill  b. pompous, high-flown ~ talk about the vast mysteries of life — W. A. White  c. highly exaggerated ; incredible, improbable a ~ story  Synonyms: see high  • ~ adverb  • ~ish adjective  • ~ness noun