A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stops (organ)

STOPS (ORGAN). This word is used in two senses—for the handles or draw-stops which are placed near the organ-player, and by which he can shut off or draw on the various registers; and for the registers themselves. Thus we speak of a 'stop' being half-out, meaning the actual handle communicating with the sliders, and at the same time we speak of 'an organ having 20 stops,' meaning 20 registers. The latter use of the word has caused the appearance of a new expression, namely, 'sounding stops' or stops acting on pipes, as opposed to couplers and other accessory movements governed also by a stop-handle. When the pipes governed by a stop do not go through the whole compass, it is said to be a 'short-stop,' 'incomplete stop,' or half-stop.' When a complete row of pipes is acted upon by means of two stops, treble and bass, it is called a 'divided stop.' [See Organ § 3, vol. ii. p. 605.]

[ J. S. ]