'stall-resistant' is a compound of the words 'stall' and 'resistant'. 'stall' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'steall', where 'steall' meant 'place' or 'stable'. 'resistant' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'resistere', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'sistere' (or 'stare' in related roots) meant 'to stand' or 'to withstand'.

'stall' changed from Old English 'steall' (a place or stall) into Middle English words such as 'stallen' and senses related to causing to stop or delay, and later developed the sense 'to stop operating' (as in engines). 'resistere' transformed into Old French 'resister' and then into Middle English forms like 'resist' and the adjective 'resistant', eventually combining with modern English 'stall' to form the compound 'stall-resistant'.

Initially, 'stall' primarily referred to a 'place' or 'stall', but over time a sense developed of 'to cause to stop' or 'to fail to continue' (as with engines or wings). 'resistant' originally meant 'withstanding' and has retained that sense; together the compound now means 'able to withstand stalling'.