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Webster 1913 Edition


Stirrup

Stir′rup

,
Noun.
[OE.
stirop
, AS.
stigrāp
;
stīgan
to mount, ascend +
rāp
a rope; akin to G.
stegreif
a stirrup. √164. See
Sty
,
Verb.
I.
, and
Rope
.]
1.
A kind of ring, or bent piece of metal, wood, leather, or the like, horizontal in one part for receiving the foot of a rider, and attached by a strap to the saddle, – used to assist a person in mounting a horse, and to enable him to sit steadily in riding, as well as to relieve him by supporting a part of the weight of the body.
Our host upon his
stirpoes
stood anon.
Chaucer.
2.
(Carp. & Mach.)
Any piece resembling in shape the stirrup of a saddle, and used as a support, clamp, etc. See
Bridle iron
.
3.
(Naut.)
A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.
Totten.
Stirrup bone
(Anat.)
,
the stapes.
Stirrup cup
,
a parting cup taken after mounting.
Stirrup iron
,
an iron stirrup.
Stirrup leather
, or
Stirrup strap
,
the strap which attaches a stirrup to the saddle. See
Stirrup
, 1.

Webster 1828 Edition


Stirrup

STIRRUP

,
Noun.
sturup. [G., step-bow or mounting-bow. The first stirrups appear to have been ropes.] A kind of ring or bending piece of metal, horizontal on one side for receiving the foot of the rider, and attached to a strap which is fastened to the saddle; used to assist persons in mounting a horse, and to enable them to sit steadily in riding, as well as to relieve them by supporting a part of the weight of the body.

Definition 2024


stirrup

stirrup

English

Noun

stirrup (plural stirrups)

  1. A foot rest used by horse-riders.
  2. (anatomy) A stapes.
  3. Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:
      Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. [] A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.
  4. (nautical) A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Totten to this entry?)

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

stirrup (not comparable)

  1. Referring to women's pants, a form of trousers commonly worn by women that includes a strap beneath the arch of the foot.

Anagrams