stirrup
Americannoun
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a loop, ring, or other contrivance of metal, wood, leather, etc., suspended from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.
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any of various similar supports or clamps used for special purposes.
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Nautical. a short rope with an eye at the end hung from a yard to support a footrope, the footrope being rove through the eye.
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Also called binder. (in reinforced-concrete constructions) a U -shaped or W -shaped bent rod for supporting longitudinal reinforcing rods.
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Anatomy. stapes.
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a strap of fabric or elastic at the bottom of a pair of pants, worn around and under the foot.
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(used with a plural verb) stirrups, close-fitting knit pants with such straps.
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noun
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Also called: stirrup iron. either of two metal loops on a riding saddle, with a flat footpiece through which a rider puts his foot for support. They are attached to the saddle by stirrup leathers
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a U-shaped support or clamp made of metal, wood, leather, etc
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nautical one of a set of ropes fastened to a yard at one end and having a thimble at the other through which a footrope is rove for support
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the usual US name for étrier
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of stirrup
before 1000; Middle English; Old English stigrāp ( stige ascent + rāp rope ); cognate with German Stegreif
Vocabulary lists containing stirrup
Chinese History - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Norwegian owns Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, one of the biggest private islands in the industry, but industry-watchers say its development plans have been slow-going.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
Workers were able to walk one horse out, but suction trapped the two, according to a Facebook posting by Stirrup Fun Stables Rescue, Inc.
From Seattle Times • May 12, 2024
Ex-armed forces chief Lord Stirrup said allies should be excluded from the deportation scheme, such as the Afghans who supported UK military operations against the Taliban.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2024
In the lawsuit, Ms. Stirrup said that the board is non-discretionary as a congressionally mandated oversight function and that the defense secretary does not have the authority to suspend its operation.
From Washington Times • Jul. 19, 2021
Stirrup Cup, a "parting cup" given by the Highlanders to guests when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups.
From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by Nuttall, P. Austin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
