Origin and history of grandstand

late 14c., grant "large, big" (early 12c. in surnames), from Anglo-French graunt and directly from Old French grant, grand (10c., Modern French grand) "large, tall; grown-up; great, powerful, important; strict, severe; extensive; numerous," from Latin grandis "big, great; full, abundant," also "full-grown;" figuratively "strong, powerful, weighty, severe," a word of unknown origin.

In Vulgar Latin it supplanted magnus and continued in the Romanic languages. The connotations of "noble, sublime, lofty, dignified," etc., were in Latin. In English it developed a special sense of "imposing." The meaning "principal, chief, most important" (especially in titles) is from 1560s; that of "of very high or noble quality" is from 1712. As a general term of admiration, "magnificent, splendid," from 1816. Related: Grander; grandest.

Grand jury is late 15c. Grand piano from 1797. The grand tour of the principal sites of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy formerly was the finishing touch in the education of a gentleman. It is attested by that name from 1660s (making the tour is said 1652 to be a common phrase for it).

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in western U.S. was so called by 1869, popularized by Maj. John Wesley Powell, scientific adventurer, who explored it; earlier it had been known as Big Canyon. For grand slam see slam (n.2).

Middle English stonde, "place, place of standing, position," from the verb or in some senses perhaps a continuation of Old English stand "a pause, delay, state of rest or inaction," itself from the root of stand (v.). Compare Dutch and German stand (n.).

The sense of "action of standing or coming to a position" is attested from late 14c., especially in reference to combat (1590s), "a holding of one's ground against an enemy or opponent." Hence the sporting use in reference to prolonged defensive resistance (1812). The meaning "state of being unable to proceed" in speech, action, etc., is from 1590s.

The meaning "raised platform for a hunter or sportsman" is attested from c. 1400; that of "raised platform for spectators at an open-air event" is from 1610s. The meaning "piece of furniture on which something is to be set" is from 1690s; the sense of "stall or booth" is recorded from c. 1500.

The military meaning "complete set" (of arms, colors, etc.) is from 1721, often a collective singular. The sense of "standing growth" (usually of trees) is by 1868, American English. The theatrical sense of "each stop made on a performance tour" is from 1895. The word formerly also was slang for an erection (1867).