stirrup Hear it!

stirrup Definition

stir·rup (stʉrəp, stir-)

noun

  1. a ring with a flat bottom hung by a strap, usually on each side of a saddle and used as a footrest in mounting and riding
  2. any of various supports, clamps, etc. resembling or suggesting such a ring
  3. Naut. a rope hung from a yard and having an eye at the end for supporting a footrope passed through it
  4. stirrup bone

Etymology: ME stirop < OE stigrap, akin to Ger stegreif: for IE bases see stile & rope

stirrup Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • exert: The force exerted by the stirrup on the oval window is converted into hydraulic pressure waves.

Converse of object

  • have: I only had one stirrup then, and that was it.
  • lose: I lost a stirrup, but my legs clung on like tentacles.

Adjective modifier

  • long: The saddles will be Chilean - the same as American saddles - with long stirrups.
  • wooden: To keep the glass upright, it sits in a wooden stirrup.

Modifies a noun

  • leggings: Here are some unworn original late 70's Dance Center stirrup dance leggings - wear if you dare!
  • pump: Fire unit called to 102, the rest were tackled with stirrup pumps.
  • leather: Stirrup leather must be attached under the saddle flaps for the duration of the trial.
  • cup: From the meet we went for a stirrup cup to a nearby farm.
  • iron: Approx 30 saddles and 25 stirrup irons and leathers from two tack rooms which had reinforced doors and walls.
  • dance: Here are some unworn original late 70's Dance Center stirrup dance leggings - wear if you dare!

Noun used with modifier

  • steel: Mild steel stirrups f 10 are placed uniformly distributed at 200 mm offsets.
  • foot: With reckless abandon, Glitch pushed down on the foot stirrup.
  • rod: Next fit the gear and throttle rod stirrups, with the bushes.
  • safety: Special safety stirrup irons are available to reduce this risk.
stirrup Quotes

Aye, they heard his foot upon the stirrup, And the sound of iron on stone, And how the silence surged softly backward, When the plunging hoofs were gone.

—de la Mare,Walter

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three.

—Browning, Robert

Browse dictionary entries near stirrup

  1. stirring
  2. stirps
  3. Stirling engine
  4. Stirling
  5. stirk
  6. stir up trouble
  7. stir-fry
  8. stir-crazy
  9. stir
  10. stipule
  1. stirrup bone
  2. stirrup cup
  3. stirrup pants
  4. stirrup pump
  5. stishovite
  6. stitch
  7. stitchery
  8. stitchwort
  9. stithy
  10. stiver