saddle

[ sad-l ]

noun

1. a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.
2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc.
3. a part of a harness laid across the back of an animal and girded under the belly, to which the terrets and checkhook are attached.
4. something resembling a saddle in shape, position, or function.
5. the part of the back of an animal where a saddle is placed.
6. 1. (of mutton, venison, lamb, etc.) a cut comprising both loins.
   2. this cut, trimmed and prepared for roasting.
7. (of poultry) the posterior part of the back.
8. a ridge connecting two higher elevations.
9. the covering of a roof ridge.
10. bolster ( def 7 ).
11. a raised piece of flooring between the jambs of a doorway.
12. an inverted bracket bearing on the axle of a railroad car wheel as a support for the car body.
13. Ordnance. the support for the trunnion on some gun carriages.
14. Machinery. a sliding part for spanning a space or other parts to support something else, as the cross slide and toolholder of a lathe.
15. a strip of leather, often of a contrasting color, sewn on the vamp or instep of a shoe and extending to each side of the shank.
16. saddle shoe.
17. Ceramics. a bar of refractory clay, triangular in section, for supporting one side of an object being fired.
18. (in a suspension bridge) a member at the top of a tower for supporting a cable.

verb (used with object)

, sad·dled, sad·dling.

1. to put a saddle on:

   to saddle a horse.

2. to load or charge, as with a burden:

   He has saddled himself with a houseful of impecunious relatives.

3. to impose as a burden or responsibility.

verb (used without object)

, sad·dled, sad·dling.

1. to put a saddle on a horse (often followed by up ).
2. to mount into the saddle (often followed by up ).

saddle

/ ˈsædəl /

noun

1. a seat for a rider, usually made of leather, placed on a horse's back and secured with a girth under the belly
2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc, made of leather or steel
3. a back pad forming part of the harness of a packhorse
4. anything that resembles a saddle in shape, position, or function
5. a cut of meat, esp mutton, consisting of part of the backbone and both loins
6. the part of a horse or similar animal on which a saddle is placed
7. the part of the back of a domestic chicken that is nearest to the tail
8. civil engineering a block on top of one of the towers of a suspension bridge that acts as a bearing surface over which the cables or chains pass
9. engineering the carriage that slides on the bed of a lathe and supports the slide rest, tool post, or turret
10. the nontechnical name for clitellum
11. another name for col
12. a raised piece of wood or metal for covering a doorsill
13. in the saddle
    in a position of control

verb

1. sometimes foll by up to put a saddle on (a horse)
2. intr to mount into the saddle
3. tr to burden; charge

   I didn't ask to be saddled with this job

Derived Forms

• ˈsaddleless, adjective
• ˈsaddle-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• saddle·less adjective
• saddle·like adjective
• re·saddle verb resaddled resaddling

Word History and Origins

Origin of saddle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sadel, saddul, Old English sadol; cognate with German Sattel, Old Norse sǫthull; akin to Latin sella (from unattested sedla ) “seat, stool, chair”; Middle English verb sad(e)len, Old English sadolian, derivative of the noun; sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of saddle¹

Old English sadol, sædel; related to Old Norse sothull, Old High German satul

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the saddle,
   1. in a position to direct or command; in control.
   2. at work; on the job.

More idioms and phrases containing saddle

In addition to the idiom beginning with saddle , also see in the driver's seat (saddle) .

Example Sentences

To understand how unnerving it is out there for cyclists, I might suggest you saddle up and pedal in a gutter bike lane during rush hour.

From Los Angeles Times

In other words, the project aims to get the government off the backs of Americans, so big business can saddle up.

From Los Angeles Times

Speaking before the event, the 44-year-old said he was unsure how he would feel when he got back in the saddle, but described the build-up to Sunday's ride as positive.

From BBC

Don’t put Smart on your show and then saddle her with reading long stretches of text from a book in front of her face.

From Los Angeles Times

Popular hiking trails, including Icehouse Canyon and Icehouse Saddle appear, via the fire map, to not have burned in the Bridge fire.

From Los Angeles Times