stile

¹ American  

[stahyl] / staɪl /

noun

1. a series of steps or rungs by means of which a person may pass over a wall or fence that remains a barrier to sheep or cattle.

2. a turnstile.

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stile ² American  

[stahyl] / staɪl /

noun

Carpentry, Furniture.

1. any of various upright members framing panels or the like, as in a system of paneling, a paneled door, window sash, or chest of drawers.

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stile ¹ British  

/ staɪl /

noun

1. a set of steps or rungs in a wall or fence to allow people, but not animals, to pass over

2. short for turnstile

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stile ² British  

/ staɪl /

noun

1. a vertical framing member in a door, window frame, or piece of panelling Compare rail 1

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Etymology

Origin of stile¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English stigel, derivative of stīgan to climb, cognate with German steigen

Origin of stile²

1670–80; perhaps < Dutch stijl (door-, bed-) post, strut

Example Sentences

After the hearing, Ms Tvedt said: "I was totally ignorant of the risks. The sign on the stile just said to put dogs on a lead, which I did."

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2024

So, I simply drove through the electronic stile, preparing myself for the bill that would arrive in the mail once that plaza's automated system photographed and traced our license plate.

From Salon • Jul. 27, 2021

Think of the past as a Google doc that anyone with a temporal stile can edit.

From Slate • Sep. 3, 2020

Here’s just a fragment from one of hers: “a meridienne, banquette, pouf, ottoman, ear, stile, cross rail, stretcher, cross stretcher, crinoline stretcher, cornice, top rail, diamond point.”

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2019

I went along the twisting path and climbed the stile that led to our field.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff