Origin and history of standholder

"keep fast or close," as in the grasp of the hand; "control or prevent the movement of" by grasping or constraint; Middle English holden, earlier halden, from Old English haldan (Anglian), healdan (West Saxon), "to contain; to grasp; to retain" (liquid, etc.); also "observe, fulfill (a custom, etc.); have as one's own; have in mind," of opinions, etc.; also "possess, control, rule; detain, lock up; to foster, cherish, keep watch over; continue in existence or action; keep back from action."

It was a class VII strong verb (past tense heold, past participle healden), from Proto-Germanic *haldanan (source also of Old Saxon haldan, Old Frisian halda, Old Norse halda, Dutch houden, German halten "to hold," Gothic haldan "to tend").

Based on the Gothic sense (also a secondary meaning in Old English), the Germanic verb is "generally accepted" [OED 1989] to have meant originally "to keep, tend, watch over" (as grazing cattle) and later expanded in the direction of "have as one's own."

The ancestral sense would be preserved in behold. The original past participle holden was replaced by held from 16c. but survives in some legal jargon and in beholden.

The commercial sense of "not sell" (certain goods or products) is by 1875, American English; that of "keep back, delay" (payment, etc.) is by 1891. The modern use of the verb in the sense of "lock up, keep in custody" is attested by 1868.

To hold back in the figurative senses is attested from 1530s, transitive, "restrain;" and by 1570s, intransitive, "retain."

To hold down (transitive) "keep in subjugation" is by 1530s; the sense of "remain in" a position, "continue to occupy" is by 1886, U.S. colloquial.

To hold off "keep aloof, keep at a distance" is attested by early 15c. (transitive), also "to delay." The intransitive sense of "keep (oneself) at a distance or away" is by c. 1600.

To hold forth "speak in public, preach" is by 1660s, from Philippians ii.16, from the earlier meaning "proffer, set forth" (1550s). Earlier it meant "keep up, maintain; go forth" (Middle English). 

To hold on is attested by early 13c. as "maintain one's course of action, continue, keep up;" by 1830 as "cling, keep one's grip (on something)." It is attested by 1839 as "wait! stop!" and in that sense was criticized at the time as a "very vulgar" Americanism.

To hold (one's) tongue "be silent, keep one's tongue still" is from late 13c.; hold (one's) peace in the same sense is by c. 1300. To hold one's nose to avoid a bad smell is by c.1200 (heold nease). To hold (one's) own "keep one's present condition or advantage" is by early 14c.

To hold (one's) horses figuratively as "be patient" is by 1840, American English (early use seems to cluster in New Orleans); the notion is of keeping a tight grip on the reins.

To hold (someone's) hand in the figurative sense of "give comfort or moral support" is by 1935. To hold water in the figurative sense of "be consistent, valid or sound throughout" is by 1620s, perhaps 1530s.

To have and to hold have been paired alliteratively at least since c. 1200, originally in reference to marriage but also of real estate.

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).