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spread eagle

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the figure of an eagle with wings and legs spread, used as an emblem of the U.S.
something suggesting this, as an acrobatic figure in fancy skating

adjective

having the figure of an eagle with wings and legs spread
☆ Informal boastful or jingoistic about the U.S.

transitive verb spread-eagled, spread-eagling

to stretch out in the form of a spread eagle, as for a flogging

intransitive verb

to perform a spread eagle

See spread eagle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The figure of an eagle with wings and legs spread.
b. The emblem on the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States.
A posture or design resembling such an emblem or figure.

adjective

Positioned with the arms and legs stretched out.
Informal Full of patriotic or jingoistic rhetoric.

verb spread-ea·gled, spread-ea·gling, spread-ea·gles

verb, transitive

To place in a spread-eagle position, especially as a means of punishment.

verb, intransitive

To assume a spread-eagle position.
To make a grandiloquent, patriotic speech.

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