saddle

American  

[sad-l] / ˈsæd l /

noun

1. a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.

2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc.

3. a part of a harness laid across the back of an animal and girded under the belly, to which the terrets and checkhook are attached.

4. something resembling a saddle in shape, position, or function.

5. the part of the back of an animal where a saddle is placed.

6. 1. (of mutton, venison, lamb, etc.) a cut comprising both loins.

   2. this cut, trimmed and prepared for roasting.

7. (of poultry) the posterior part of the back.

8. a ridge connecting two higher elevations.

9. the covering of a roof ridge.

10. bolster.

11. a raised piece of flooring between the jambs of a doorway.

12. an inverted bracket bearing on the axle of a railroad car wheel as a support for the car body.

13. Ordnance. the support for the trunnion on some gun carriages.

14. Machinery. a sliding part for spanning a space or other parts to support something else, as the cross slide and toolholder of a lathe.

15. a strip of leather, often of a contrasting color, sewn on the vamp or instep of a shoe and extending to each side of the shank.

16. saddle shoe.

17. Ceramics. a bar of refractory clay, triangular in section, for supporting one side of an object being fired.

18. (in a suspension bridge) a member at the top of a tower for supporting a cable.

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verb (used with object)

saddled, saddling

1. to put a saddle on.

   to saddle a horse.

2. to load or charge, as with a burden.

   He has saddled himself with a houseful of impecunious relatives.

3. to impose as a burden or responsibility.

verb (used without object)

saddled, saddling

1. to put a saddle on a horse (often followed byup ).

2. to mount into the saddle (often followed byup ).

idioms

1. in the saddle,

   1. in a position to direct or command; in control.

   2. at work; on the job.

saddle British  

/ ˈsædəl /

noun

1. a seat for a rider, usually made of leather, placed on a horse's back and secured with a girth under the belly

2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc, made of leather or steel

3. a back pad forming part of the harness of a packhorse

4. anything that resembles a saddle in shape, position, or function

5. a cut of meat, esp mutton, consisting of part of the backbone and both loins

6. the part of a horse or similar animal on which a saddle is placed

7. the part of the back of a domestic chicken that is nearest to the tail

8. civil engineering a block on top of one of the towers of a suspension bridge that acts as a bearing surface over which the cables or chains pass

9. engineering the carriage that slides on the bed of a lathe and supports the slide rest, tool post, or turret

10. the nontechnical name for clitellum

11. another name for col

12. a raised piece of wood or metal for covering a doorsill

13. in a position of control

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verb

1. (sometimes foll by up) to put a saddle on (a horse)

2. (intr) to mount into the saddle

3. (tr) to burden; charge

   I didn't ask to be saddled with this job

saddle More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing saddle

• in the driver's seat (saddle)

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Other Word Forms

• resaddle verb
• saddle-like adjective
• saddleless adjective
• saddlelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of saddle

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sadel, saddul, Old English sadol; cognate with German Sattel, Old Norse sǫthull; akin to Latin sella (from unattested sedla ) “seat, stool, chair”; Middle English verb sad(e)len, Old English sadolian, derivative of the noun; sit ¹

Explanation

A saddle is a leather seat for horseback riders. If you saddle something, you either put a saddle on it or you burden it with something else. If you buy an expensive saddle for example. you may be saddled (or burdened) with debt. A saddle makes a horse's rider more comfortable and secure — and if you ever ride a camel, you'll also sit on a saddle. As a verb, to saddle means "to put a saddle on an animal," although it also has the figurative meaning of "to burden." Your excessive spending might saddle you with debt, or your position as the oldest of eight siblings could saddle you with too much responsibility.

Example Sentences

I like to head down to the barn, saddle up a horse and ride.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

I was left more determined than ever to get back in the saddle and go again.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

The horse now stands upright with its head pushing out from the back of its saddle.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Such a scenario could also potentially saddle Blue Owl with the responsibility of funding the data center.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

While Eilonwy brought the leather water flask, Taran and Gurgi unharnessed Lluagor and set the saddle under Adaon’s head.

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander