stirrup
- a loop, ring, or other contrivance of metal, wood, leather, etc., suspended from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.
- any of various similar supports or clamps used for special purposes.
- 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.
- Also called binder. (in reinforced-concrete constructions) a U-shaped or W-shaped bent rod for supporting longitudinal reinforcing rods.
- Anatomy. stapes.
- a strap of fabric or elastic at the bottom of a pair of pants, worn around and under the foot.
- stirrups,(used with a plural verb)close-fitting knit pants with such straps.
Origin of stirrup
Related Words for stirrup
clamp, splint, bracer, bearing, buttress, skid, truss, arm, staff, bolster, stanchion, rib, stave, prop, boom, peg, mainstay, grip, girder, rafterExamples from the Web for stirrup
Historical Examples of stirrup
Halfway up the stretch Allis was riding stirrup to stirrup with her father.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
The horse was saddled and bridled; the groom held the stirrup, and up I got.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
He picked up the bridle-reins, caught the saddle-horn, and thrust his toe into the stirrup.
Good IndianB. M. Bower
"I'll hold on to you; and you must hold on to the stirrup and to the horse's mane," she said.
He led her to her horse and held the stirrup for her as she swung to the saddle.
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
stirrup
- 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
- a U-shaped support or clamp made of metal, wood, leather, etc
- 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
- the usual US name for étrier
Word Origin for stirrup
Word Origin and History for stirrup
Old English stigrap, literally "climbing rope," from stige "a climbing, ascent" (from Proto-Germanic *stigaz "climbing;" see stair) + rap (see rope). Originally a looped rope as a help for mounting. Germanic cognates include Old Norse stigreip, Old High German stegareif, German stegreif. Surgical device used in childbirth, etc., so called from 1884. Stirrup-cup (1680s) was a cup of wine or other drink handed to a man already on horseback and setting out on a journey, hence "a parting glass" (cf. French le vin de l'etrier).
stirrup
(stûr′əp, stĭr′-)- stapes